US TV Networks to Resume Coverage of Trump Events After White House Access Restored

US television networks are set to resume pool coverage of President Donald Trump's public events, after CNN's access to the White House was reinstated. The network's reporter, Kristen Holmes, said on air Friday that pool coverage would be in place, speaking from the White House grounds where the network had regained entry a day earlier.

CNN confirmed it would cover Trump's tour of the National Archives on Friday, where he is scheduled to visit the complex housing America's founding documents, including the US Constitution, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. The event comes as a First Amendment case continues through the federal courts.

The White House had barred CNN, MSN NOW and Politico from the complex last week, citing coverage the president described as false or negative. A federal judge deemed the ban likely unconstitutional and ordered access restored immediately; the administration complied at midday on Thursday.

Even after the court order, the White House television press pool had held off on resuming coverage until CNN was formally reinstated, in a show of solidarity with the cable network. CNN, along with ABC, CBS, FOX News and NBC, shares the costs of covering the president and rotates pool duties, supplying footage to other outlets. The hold-off meant no pool coverage of Xi's visit to Washington had taken place until now.

Holmes said CNN would be at the National Archives while CBS would handle pool coverage at the White House. CBS was listed as the pool camera for Friday's events on Trump's public schedule. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.