White House bars CNN from Air Force One for Trump’s Tennessee trip

The White House has barred CNN from flying aboard Air Force One for President Donald Trump’s Saturday trip to Tennessee, preventing the network from carrying out its duties as part of the White House television press pool.

WASHINGTON: The White House has barred CNN from flying aboard Air Force One for President Donald Trump’s Saturday trip to Tennessee, preventing the network from carrying out its duties as part of the White House television press pool.

CNN had been scheduled to travel with Trump to Tennessee for a college football game as part of the rotating television press pool, which provides coverage for major US broadcast networks. But the network was left off guidance sent to the press corps outlining Trump’s schedule for Saturday.

The move came two days after US District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the administration to temporarily restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s access to the White House.

Trump had announced the ban on the three outlets the previous week, accusing them of publishing what he called “FAKE NEWS.”

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The ban prompted the other television networks in the rotating press pool to suspend coverage of Trump’s events in solidarity with CNN. The pool resumed operations Friday, with CNN serving as the designated pool outlet for one event.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the administration, arguing that the restrictions violate the First Amendment. Kelly’s ruling temporarily restored their White House access, but did not specifically address access to Air Force One or television press-pool duties.

In a joint statement earlier this week, the White House television pool said: “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”