Major television networks refused on Monday to provide pool coverage of President Donald Trump's address to the United Nations, in a show of solidarity with CNN, MSNOW and Politico — the outlets removed from the White House press corps.

A group of networks filed a lawsuit on Monday, which has been assigned to Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee. Law professor Steve Vladeck noted that Kelly is the same judge "who ruled for Jim Acosta in the press pass revocation dispute during the first Trump administration." That case was ultimately dismissed after Acosta's press pass was returned. The complaint is available here.

The outlets have already filed for a temporary restraining order, which would put a stop to the press ban while the case works its way through the courts. The filing can be read here.

"The Supreme Court has not always drawn the clearest lines when it comes to the First Amendment and press freedom," Vladeck wrote in a Substack analysis. "But this is just not a close case." He shared the analysis on Bluesky.

On Friday, Trump announced that he was pulling CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House press. The reporters' press passes were taken on Saturday. CNN had been scheduled to take over the 24-hour pool rotation on Monday, but mainstream outlets — including Fox News — decided not to cover the president following the ban.

Kellie Meyer, a White House reporter for the Associated Press, 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 on X.

"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 added that "right now, there is no major TV pool covering the president's movements."

Reactions among MAGA supporters were sharply critical of Fox News for joining the boycott, while others brushed it off, saying they had stopped trusting the network in favor of other conservative outlets. One influencer wrote simply, "Shame on Fox News."

Former Associate White House Counsel Graziella Pastor called the move "absolutely insane" on X.

"DROP FOX LIKE A ROCK! Turn to NEWSMAX [and] see what they do! DROP FOX!" wrote Vikki Siddall on X.

One self-described "MAGA Patriot" said the networks hardly air 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," one person wrote in response to Piers Morgan, who had welcomed the show of solidarity.

Another supporter said they already boycott the mainstream media, so the move made no difference.

"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!" another wrote.

Source: Alternet