CNN journalists following Donald Trump were excluded from his scheduled trip on Saturday, in a new offensive by the White House against the media.
The American president is to travel to Tennessee, and it was planned that CNN would be the TV representative among the “pool” of media who travel with him in turn and make their production available to others.
However, CNN did not appear on the program communicated by the White House on Friday, nor did any other major television channel. Only Lindell TV, a pro-Trump media outlet run by businessman Mike Lindell, was listed as a “secondary TV media outlet.”
Donald Trump last week withdrew their White House accreditation from three American media outlets, CNN, MS NOW and Politico, accusing them of relaying “false information”. Judge Timothy Kelly nevertheless ordered their access restored.
However, on Thursday, CNN journalists were again refused access to the White House, which led the four other members of the television “pool” — CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox — to decide to cease their participation in this crucial system, in an unprecedented demonstration of solidarity.
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate and independent information about their government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it disagrees with its coverage,” the five outlets said.
Asked by AFP on Friday, CNN declined to comment when the White House did not respond.
