Five major American television networks have suspended shared coverage of presidential events after restrictions on CNN’s access escalated a dispute between the Trump administration and news organizations.

ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Fox News and CNN participate in the television press pool, which supplies shared footage of presidential activities. Their decision followed the White House’s move to prevent CNN from carrying out its assigned pool duties.

The confrontation follows President Donald Trump's announcement that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House. Trump accused the outlets of publishing inaccurate coverage, while the organizations challenged the restrictions.

In a joint statement on September 21, the five networks defended the public’s access to independent reporting and opposed government restrictions imposed because officials object to a news organization’s coverage.

The dispute also prompted CNN, MS NOW and Politico to file a lawsuit seeking to restore their access. The outlets argue that the administration’s actions violate constitutional protections for the press.

The scope of the networks’ action matters: suspending the shared television pool does not establish a complete blackout of reporting about Trump. It also does not, by itself, confirm that his United Nations address will go untelevised.