FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump listens to reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
Major networks are joining in solidarity with those removed from the White House press by refusing to be on-hand for President Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations on Monday.
A group of networks filed a lawsuit on Monday, which has been assigned to Trump-appointed judge Timothy Kelly. Law professor Steve Vladeck noted it's the same judge "who ruled for Jim Acosta in the press pass revocation dispute during the first Trump administration." The case was eventually dismissed when Acosta's pass was returned.
The outlets have already filed for a temporary restraining order, which would put a stop to Trump's press ban while the case works its way through the courts.
Vladeck wrote in a Substack analysis, "The Supreme Court has not always drawn the clearest lines when it comes to the First Amendment and press freedom. But this is just not a close case."
On Friday, Trump announced that he was pulling CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House press. On Saturday, the reporters' press passes were taken.
However, on Monday, CNN was supposed to take over the responsibility for the 24-hour pool rotation. Mainstream outlets decided they're not giving the president coverage following the ban.
Associated Press reporter for the White House, Kellie Meyer, called the move "astonishing."
"With CNN banned from the White House and taken off the TV pool list for today, (they were originally listed as pool for Monday and for the President’s trip to the UN General Assembly) other major TV networks are standing by the outlet and, in an astonishing move, all together deciding not to cover events designated as pool coverage of the President," she reported.
"What is important for people at home to understand about how this affects all of us is that the footage taken by one of the five major TV networks in the White House pool rotation (CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS) goes out to local affiliates across the country and throughout the world," Meyer explained.
"If people don’t get this footage from the main 5 outlets, then the only footage left comes from the White House itself," she said.
She also added that as of "right now, there is no major TV pool covering the president’s movements."
Some MAGA fans criticized Fox News, while others said that it didn't matter because they stopped trusting the network over other conservative outlets.
One influencer said simply, "Shame on Fox News."
Former Associate White House Counsel Graziella Pastor called the move "absolutely insane."
"DROP FOX LIKE A ROCK! Turn to NEWSMAX [and] see what they do! DROP FOX!" ranted Vikki Siddall.
One "Maga Patriot" said that the networks hardly run Trump's speeches anyway.
"Constantly reporting fake news is what’s wrong Piers [Morgan], if they stop lying I’m sure they’ll be allowed back in... simple common sense really," noted another person responding to Piers Morgan celebrating the solidarity.
Another MAGA supporter said that they already boycott the mainstream media, so it didn't matter.
"Funny, out of the list you posted, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and FOX, Trump only removed CNN. 4 other networks couldn't cover the TV pool? How sad of them! [By the way], your comment tells me they are just 5 networks working as one propaganda outlet for the Democrats, yes including Fox!" said another MAGA supporter.
