In a fresh escalation of tensions with the Trump administration, CNN has warned that it could return to court if the White House continues to exclude its journalists from covering President Donald Trump’s travels aboard Air Force One.
The warning comes amid an ongoing legal battle over restrictions on media access to the White House and presidential events.
CNN attorney Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. raised the latest concerns in a letter to Justice Department attorney Michael K. Velchik, alleging that the network had been excluded from the television press pool covering Trump’s Air Force One trips at least four times.
The television press pool comprises journalists from ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox, who rotate assignments covering presidential travel and share video footage with other news organisations.
Boutrous argued that CNN had enjoyed access to the Oval Office and Air Force One for 45 years, insisting that such access should not be subject to the preferences of any administration, as journalists cover the president on behalf of the American public.
He accused the White House of adopting a policy that effectively sidelines CNN from presidential travel coverage, undermining the network’s ability to fulfil its journalistic responsibilities.
The dispute follows a ruling last week by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who granted CNN, MS NOW and Politico a preliminary injunction against restrictions barring their reporters from entering White House grounds.
The judge also found that the three media organisations were likely to succeed in arguing that the restrictions violated their First Amendment and due process rights.
However, CNN says the ruling has not prevented the administration from limiting its participation in the presidential travel press pool.
Boutrous characterised the repeated exclusions as alleged retaliation and discrimination linked to CNN’s reporting, warning that the network would pursue further legal action if the situation persisted.
He gave the White House two days to respond to the concerns raised in his letter.
The Justice Department had not responded to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the latest dispute.
The confrontation marks another flashpoint in the increasingly strained relationship between the Trump administration and major news organisations, raising fresh questions about press freedom, equal access to presidential coverage and the limits of government control over journalists.
