And just like that they come crawling back.
Major television networks are moving forward with their White House coverage this week despite an ongoing dispute between President Donald Trump’s administration and CNN over access to the president.
NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox are expected to continue performing their regularly scheduled television pool duties, according to reports, even as questions remain about whether CNN will be allowed to participate when its turn arrives.
The decision comes after several networks temporarily stepped away from White House pool coverage last week amid a broader fight over press access.
Major Networks Resume Trump Coverage
The dispute began after the Trump administration barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from White House grounds.
Trump accused the three news organizations of publishing what he called “fake news” and argued that some of their reporting raised national security concerns.
The outlets challenged the administration’s decision in federal court.
Their attorneys argued that removing their White House access violated due-process protections and raised First Amendment concerns.
A federal judge later ordered the administration to restore their access while the legal dispute continues.
The ruling provided the media organizations with an important temporary victory, although it did not bring the larger disagreement between the White House and the press to an end.
Networks Had Pulled Out in Protest
Several major television networks responded to the original ban by temporarily refusing to participate in the normal White House television pool.
That move put additional pressure on the administration because pool coverage plays an important role in documenting the president’s daily activities.
After CNN, Politico and MS NOW were allowed back onto White House grounds, regular television pool coverage resumed.
But the controversy quickly returned.
CNN Blocked From Air Force One Coverage
CNN was reportedly prevented from covering Trump aboard Air Force One ahead of a presidential trip to Tennessee.
That incident raised fresh questions about whether CNN would be permitted to fully participate in future pool assignments despite being allowed back onto White House property.
The other major networks are reportedly monitoring the situation on a day-by-day basis.
For now, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox appear prepared to continue their scheduled coverage rather than repeat their earlier withdrawal.
Why White House Pool Coverage Matters
The White House press pool exists because it is often impossible for every news organization to accompany the president during travel, meetings and other events.
A smaller group of reporters, photographers and television crews is therefore selected to document presidential activities on behalf of the larger press corps.
Those journalists share their reports and footage with other media organizations.
As a result, a dispute involving one pool participant can potentially affect television stations, newspapers, websites and other news organizations across the country.
Trump’s Long-Running Battle With the Media
Trump has frequently criticized major national media organizations throughout his political career.
He has accused certain outlets of unfair coverage, misleading reporting and political bias.
News organizations, meanwhile, have argued that presidential administrations should not restrict access because officials dislike or disagree with their coverage.
That disagreement has repeatedly produced confrontations between Trump and members of the White House press corps.
The latest controversy brings those tensions back into the spotlight.
CNN Faces Another Important Test
The situation could become especially significant later this week.
CNN is reportedly listed as the primary television pool provider for Thursday, when Trump is scheduled to travel to Texas and Oklahoma for rallies.
That assignment could provide an important indication of how the White House intends to handle CNN following the federal court ruling.
If CNN is permitted to perform its normal pool responsibilities, tensions could temporarily ease.
If new restrictions are imposed, however, the legal and media dispute could intensify again.
Networks Take a Day-by-Day Approach
For the moment, the largest television networks appear to be taking a cautious approach.
Rather than continuing a coordinated withdrawal from presidential coverage, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox are expected to fulfill their scheduled pool responsibilities while closely watching how the administration handles CNN.
That represents a notable shift from the networks’ response only days earlier.
The broader legal battle over White House press access remains unresolved, and additional court action could still shape what happens next.
With CNN scheduled for another major pool assignment and tensions between Trump and national news organizations continuing, the fight over who gets access to the president is likely to remain a closely watched issue.