Networks to resume TV pool coverage of Trump despite White House block of CNN

Major television networks plan to continue to provide pool coverage of President Trump’s daily activities this week despite the White House’s ongoing efforts to block CNN from covering the president.

Each of the TV networks in the pool, including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, plan to fulfill their pool duties on the days they are assigned this week, The Hill confirmed on Monday, even as CNN’s ability to serve as the designated TV pool crew remained in doubt.

The major networks for several days last week pulled out of pool coverage in solidarity with CNN after Trump banned the cable channel and two other outlets from the White House over what he said was its publishing of “fake news,” which he argued put national security at risk.

The three outlets, CNN, Politico and MS NOW, sued over the ban and won last week, with a federal judge ruling the White House violated the media companies’ due process rights. Attorneys for the media companies said the ban also ran afoul of First Amendment protections.

Pool coverage of the president resumed last week after CNN and the two other outlets were let back onto the White House grounds, but tensions flared again over the weekend when CNN was blocked from covering Trump on Air Force One ahead of his trip to Tennessee.

The TV networks, which initially blasted Trump over the ban, are assessing the TV pool situation on a day-by-day basis, a person familiar with the discussions said.

A White House schedule for TV pool rotation announced Sunday listed CNN as the primary pool provider for Thursday, when Trump is slated to travel to Texas and Oklahoma for rallies.