On Saturday, President Donald Trump traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the midday football matchup between the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas. While the White House’s travel guidance traditionally includes a member of the U.S. network video pool, this time the administration listed Real America’s Voice—a conservative outlet not part of the pool—in place of CNN.

Background on the pool and recent court action

CNN, along with MS NOW and Politico, had been scheduled to fly aboard Air Force One as part of the rotating video pool that provides live footage to the broader press corps. The pool’s composition was altered after a federal judge temporarily struck down President Trump’s ban on those three outlets from White House grounds. Judge Timothy Kelly’s order addressed “hard passes” to the White House but did not directly mention Air Force One or pool duties.

Following the ruling, the White House issued new guidance on Friday night that omitted CNN and instead named Real America’s Voice. The network posted a video of its correspondent Taylor Mitchell declaring, “CNN is not here; we have taken over that responsibility. We are so excited to be here.”

President’s response and public reaction

President Trump used his social‑media account to denounce the exclusion, writing, “FAKE NEWS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!! IT HAS GONE ON FAR TOO LONG, AT A TREMENDOUS COST TO OUR COUNTRY.” Fans at the stadium witnessed a low‑altitude flyover of Air Force One as the national anthem played, and the president was later shown on the jumbotron to cheering crowds.

Real America’s Voice announced it would make its feeds available to other news outlets, positioning the move as a stand for “fair coverage” after what it described as a “Trump administration’s latest salvo against CNN and the broader White House press corps.”

Legal and industry context

The TV pool, created decades ago by the White House Correspondents’ Association, is intended to ensure that a rotating roster of broadcasters travels with the president, providing accountability and shared resources. When the administration banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds, the remaining four pool members declined participation in a show of solidarity.

Attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr., representing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, indicated that the plaintiffs believe the recent court ruling also covers pool access, though he did not comment further on the Air Force One decision.

Implications for press freedom

The exclusion underscores an ongoing clash between the Trump administration and major news organizations over First Amendment rights. While the judge’s temporary order restored some access, the decision to replace a pool member with a non‑pool outlet raises fresh questions about equitable media coverage of the president’s activities.

As the legal battle continues, the White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding the specific change to Air Force One’s media roster.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.