Vance defends Trump’s White House media ban

1 hour ago The News Room

US television networks staged an extraordinary revolt Monday when they effectively boycotted coverage of President Donald Trump in protest at his decision to ban three leading outlets from the White House.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico also went to court after Trump on Saturday ordered them to be barred, as the 80-year-old Republican stepped up his years-long assault on the US media.

As a result of the row, Trump’s opening of his cherished new White House helipad and his trip to the United Nations General Assembly were proceeding without live television coverage.

In a rare move, US broadcasters ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN said on Tuesday that they were halting “pool” coverage of the White House — where a broadcaster films on behalf of all television outlets for the day — in solidarity with CNN.

The result is an almost unprecedented test of wills between the Trump administration and the press, in a critical week during which Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the White House.