{"id":7952,"date":"2026-10-11T05:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T05:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=7952"},"modified":"2026-10-11T05:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T05:00:09","slug":"us-opens-antitrust-probe-into-tv-networks-halting-trump-coverage-donald-trump-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=7952","title":{"rendered":"US opens antitrust probe into TV networks halting Trump coverage | Donald Trump News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Department of Justice says it\u2019s investigating whether the White House press pool\u2019s decision violated antitrust laws.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 11 Oct 2026<\/span>11 Oct 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The United States Department of Justice has opened an investigation into television networks\u2019 decision to halt coverage of President Donald Trump last month.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson said on Saturday that the department was investigating whether the networks violated federal antitrust laws by their boycott, which followed a White House decision to pull the credentials<\/a> of reporters from three news organisations, including CNN.<\/p>\n

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The \u2060networks under investigation are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, said Emily Convington, the Justice Department spokesperson.<\/p>\n

\u201cGroup boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,\u201d she said of the antitrust legislation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

The investigation is the latest in a series \u200cof clashes between the Trump administration and major news organisations. Trump has repeatedly called the mainstream media \u201cfake news\u201d and frequently clashes with reporters during encounters with the press.<\/p>\n

The action also puts legal and potentially financial pressure on the media to continue coverage of the president even when they disagree with how the White House handles them.<\/p>\n

The networks did not immediately comment on the announcement.<\/p>\n

The Justice Department\u2019s move came after the television pool of five broadcasters last month ceased presidential coverage after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.<\/p>\n

The White House said on September 19 that covering the president was a \u201cprivilege \u2013 not a right\u201d. The outlets \u2060sued the administration, alleging the exclusions violated the First Amendment and that the White House was retaliating over their coverage.<\/p>\n

CNN is one of the five \u2060news organisations \u2013 along with ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC \u2013 \u2060that make up the primary White House television pool<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They share the costs of covering the president, take turns organising coverage, and share the footage with outlets around the country.<\/p>\n

All of the five television networks that cover the White House, including Fox \u200cNews, suspended coverage in solidarity and refused to provide replacement coverage.<\/p>\n

The White House reinstated the credentials<\/a> on September 24 after US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled<\/a> that the ban was likely unconstitutional and \u200cordered \u200cthe administration to \u201cimmediately return, reinstate, and restore\u201d their access.<\/p>\n

However, disputes over access to specific presidential events and pool assignments continued.<\/p>\n

Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists\u2019 Americas director, on Saturday criticised the administration\u2019s decision to investigate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets defending press access,\u201d Zamora said on X. \u201cThe public\u2019s right to know depends on that access.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Department of Justice says it\u2019s investigating whether the White House press pool\u2019s decision violated antitrust laws. Published On 11 Oct 202611 Oct 2026 The United States Department of Justice has opened an investigation into television networks\u2019 decision to halt coverage of President Donald Trump last month. A spokesperson said on Saturday that the department was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t