US3 min(s) read
Donald Trump’s visit and address at the United Nations General Assembly will not be televised by any major US broadcaster on Monday, as they collectively elected to boycott coverage following his ban on CNN and MS NOW.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC, the US’ most renowned networks, are protesting the White House’s ban, with none of them sending cameramen or reporters to cover the event.
As such, Trump’s appearance in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting on Monday will remain untelevised on any of the country’s leading networks.
Bryan Broughton, Fox News Washington Bureau Chief, confirmed the collective decision in an email on Monday, stating: “This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President.
“This follows the White House's position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.”
The length of the boycott remains undetermined, with major broadcasters yet to reveal when they will resume coverage of the US leader.
Trump has frequently vocalized his criticism of the press, including CNN.
"It's about basic fairness," Vice President JD Vance claimed on Monday.
"They can still report. They still have the access to free speech. They're just not going to get an office in the White House anymore."
According to reports, when reporters from the banned networks attended the White House for work over the weekend, some had their press passes revoked.
Those banned outlets then issued a joint statement, condemning the White House's ban:
"The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government," the statement read.
"No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting."
In response to the widespread backlash, Trump himself defended the unprecedented decision to ban CNN and other outlets.
"The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish,' Trump claimed. "It is instituting an assault on the fake news, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America."
"It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, now!"
CNN, along with MS NOW, and Politico have further made their shared intention clear that they will pursue legal action, to protect their "First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.
"Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting," the statement added.
"Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."
The White House has since published a cryptic social media post that appears to display a TV showing static with the caption: "Something's coming. Stay tuned."
