# Networks Unite Against Trump, Including Fox, in Press Ban Fight

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/networks-unite-against-trump-including-fox-in-press-ban-fight
- Published: 2026-09-22T07:14:50.993100+00:00
- Topics: press-freedom, trump-administration, media, first-amendment, white-house-press-pool

## What the left says
- The White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico is an unprecedented attempt to punish outlets for critical coverage rather than any legitimate security or conduct concern.
- The banned outlets' lawsuit argues the president's action violates the First Amendment by using government power to retaliate against disfavored speech.
- The White House's launch of a self-produced 'Trump TV' feed shows the administration wants to replace independent journalism with government-controlled messaging.
- The bipartisan-style solidarity among competing networks, including Fox News, signals that press access is a constitutional principle above partisan interest, not a partisan grievance.

## What the right says
- The president has broad discretion over who receives special access to the White House grounds, and this is being framed by critics as a free-press crisis when it may simply be a credentialing dispute.
- Trump's frustration stems from what he describes as consistently 'purposely negative' coverage, and he sees the ban as a response to biased reporting rather than an attack on the press generally.
- The networks' coordinated boycott, even though Fox News joined it, could be seen as media institutions closing ranks to protect their own access privileges rather than defending a broader principle.
- Providing an alternative White House video feed ensures the public still has some visual record of presidential events despite the pool suspension.

## Common ground
- Five major networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC — jointly declined to continue pool coverage after the ban.
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit Monday arguing the ban violates their First Amendment rights.
- The pool blackout left Trump's remarks at a White House event inaudible to the public because no professional broadcast audio was available.
- The White House press pool has provided continuous camera coverage of the president since 1950, making this suspension historically significant.

## Sources
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-09-21-0700/media-industry-networks-pull-out-white-house-tv-pool-solidarity-cnn) (Center)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/21/trump-tv-networks-white-house-pool-coverage) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6101588-tv-networks-donald-trump-pool-disruption-msnow-cnn-politico-white-house-ban/) (Center)
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/trump-white-house-pool-tv-ban-audio) (Lean Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/6100754-live-updates-trump-white-house-media-ban-united-nations-general-assembly/) (Center)

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