In a win for open government and the American public, a federal judge ordered the White House to restore CNN’s access to the White House TV pool on Friday. The pool, which includes NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News and CNN, is the primary source of video feeds that news outlets across the nation and the world rely on to broadcast President Trump’s speeches and appearances.
Judge Kelly’s Order Reinstates Full Coverage
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order early Thursday morning that required the White House to allow CNN back into the pool. The order cited the court’s earlier ruling that the ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico violated the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights. Once the order took effect, journalists from the three previously barred outlets returned to work and the pool rotation resumed.
President Trump Meets Xi Jinping Amid Restored Access
That same morning, the pool captured President Trump greeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping outside the White House South Portico before the two leaders entered for a tea meeting. The pair are scheduled to travel to the National Archives later that day for a viewing of the Declaration of Independence, an event that will also be covered by the pool.
CBS Leads Friday’s Pool Rotation
CBS was on pool duty for the White House on Friday, while CNN received an in‑town assignment covering the National Archives visit. CNN anchor Pamela Brown announced on air, “CNN’s access to the White House has been restored, and the TV pool appears to be functioning as normal.”
Legal Team Hails Restoration as Good for the Country
Ted Boutrous, counsel for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, told “The Lead with Jake Tapper” that the plaintiffs believe the pool is covered by the temporary restraining order. “We think that that restoration of access means back into the pool, which is good for President Trump and the administration, and it’s good for the American people to get the pool back up and running,” Boutrous said.
Why the TV Pool Matters
The TV pool exists because presidents often travel and speak in locations where the broader press corps cannot be present. By providing a single video feed, the pool ensures that news organizations of all sizes can report accurately on presidential events. Restoring CNN’s participation re‑establishes a broader, more balanced flow of information to the public.
Continuing Vigilance
While the situation is now stable, the administration noted that the pool’s operation remains fluid, and any future disputes will be addressed through the courts. For now, the restored access signals a return to normal coverage of President Trump’s foreign‑policy engagements and domestic initiatives.
What’s Next?
The National Archives visit is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Observers expect the event to be streamed live through the pool, allowing citizens across the country to watch President Trump and President Xi together view the nation’s founding document.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
