Justice Department Investigates White House Press Pool for Potential Antitrust Violations
The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether major television networks violated antitrust laws by suspending pooled coverage of President Donald Trump following a ban on certain media outlets from the White House. The probe focuses on ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC, which temporarily halted their joint video coverage after Trump prohibited access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico in September 2026. The networks resumed pooled coverage after a federal judge ordered that press access be restored due to due-process concerns. However, the ruling did not extend to Air Force One travel restrictions. The Justice Department is examining whether this coordinated action violated the Sherman Act, which prohibits agreements that unreasonably restrain trade. This marks another escalation in Trump's ongoing dispute with media outlets over coverage and press rights. The investigation has drawn criticism from advocacy groups like the Freedom of the Press Foundation, who argue it misapplies antitrust law to free speech issues protected by the First Amendment.
