White House TV pool back in operation after ban of news outlets

AP – The United States network video pool for the White House was back in operation on Friday, for the first time since President Donald Trump banned three news outlets in a high-profile showdown over media access.

"As of now, all systems are go," said a person familiar with the pool, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the fluidity of the situation.

The pool consists of five major US broadcast outlets that take turns shooting and sharing video. When the White House banned CNN – which belongs to the pool – and two other outlets from White House grounds, the other four declined to participate in a show of solidarity.

A judge temporarily struck down the ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Thursday, but his ruling didn't directly address the pool. The networks continued to refrain from covering Trump as part of the pool even as reporters from all three outlets were allowed back in the White House.

As President Donald Trump prepared to take Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the National Archives on Friday, the pool's live feed was being shared again.

CNN was not commenting directly on Friday, referring instead to its editorial coverage. But Brian Stelter, the network's media analyst, posted on X that CNN had a pool assignment at the National Archives event and that the White House had approved the network's credentials.

A daily White House press schedule listed CBS as one of the pool assignments on Friday. CNN also had a pool assignment on Friday, and an Associated Press journalist saw the network preparing on site.

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