DOJ Probes TV Networks Over Suspension of White House Pool Coverage
The DOJ investigates whether TV networks violated antitrust laws by boycotting White House coverage after Trump banned CNN and others.
The White House from Washington, DC/Wikimedia Commons
The Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into major television networks following their suspension of White House pool coverage in solidarity with CNN. This action came after President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, prompting a coordinated boycott by the television press pool.
Background of the White House Media Ban
On September 18, President Trump announced a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House complex, citing dissatisfaction with their coverage of his administration. In response, these media outlets filed a lawsuit challenging the ban as a violation of their constitutional rights to free speech. A federal judge intervened on September 24, issuing a temporary restraining order that required the White House to reinstate their press passes for a two-week period while the case remains pending.
Television Pool’s Solidarity Boycott
Following the ban, the television press pool—which includes ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN—announced the suspension of their White House coverage on September 21. The pool’s chair explained in an email that this decision was a direct result of the White House’s refusal to allow CNN to fulfill its assigned duties within the pool. This boycott was a show of unity among the networks, who share the responsibilities and costs of covering the president and distribute broadcast feeds to other media outlets nationwide.
DOJ Antitrust Investigation
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division has opened an investigation to determine whether the television networks violated antitrust laws by engaging in a group boycott. According to a DOJ statement, “Members of the television press pool have proudly boycotted covering White House events. Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act.” The investigation focuses on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, all of which declined to comment on the probe.
Impact on Other Media Pools
On the same day the television pool suspended its coverage, other media outlets with still photographers in the White House pool—including Reuters, Getty Images, The New York Times, and The Washington Post—agreed not to publish or distribute any photos taken on September 21 until midnight the following day. This coordination highlights the broader media response to the White House’s actions against select news organizations.
The DOJ’s investigation adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press corps, as legal battles and questions of media access continue to unfold.
