By admin 
(Gray News) — Major news networks Fox, ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC have agreed to suspend their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump after he banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Read more Pima County man facing sexual assault, kidnapping charges from multiple incidents
Fox, ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC have long shared the responsibility of providing coverage of presidential events. According to The New York Times, these networks split the financial cost and distribute footage for news outlets worldwide.
The five networks provide coverage on rotation. CNN had been set to cover Trump’s travel Monday to the United Nations General Assembly before its status was revoked.
After Trump banned CNN from covering him, the five networks released a joint statement saying they agreed to no longer provide pool coverage of the president. The move is effective immediately.
“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,” the pool members, Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News, said in a joint statement.
While it is not explicitly stated, the assumption is that outlets not banned from the White House will resume independent coverage of the president.
Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico comes after he accused them of “fake news” and purposefully negative reporting.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have now sued the Trump administration over the decision, saying the selective ban was “a blatant violation” of the First Amendment.
Trump, however, defended his decision in a statement on social media.
“The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote.
Read more Senate GOP appoints special counsel in Hobbs pay-to-play investigation