# DOJ investigates TV networks over Trump pool coverage halt

> The Justice Department is examining whether major broadcasters violated antitrust law by suspending pooled White House coverage after the president barred three news outlets.
- Title: DOJ investigates TV networks over Trump pool coverage halt
- Summary: The Justice Department is examining whether major broadcasters violated antitrust law by suspending pooled White House coverage after the president barred…
- Keywords: justice department, antitrust investigation, white house press pool, cnn, fox news, abc, cbs, nbc, donald trump, press freedom, sherman act, business
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/10/11/trump-doj-white-house-tv-press-pool-antitrust.html
- Author: Liz Napolitano
- Published: 2026-10-11T19:07:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: justice department, antitrust investigation, white house press pool, cnn, fox news, abc, cbs, nbc, donald trump, press freedom, sherman act, business
## DOJ opens antitrust probe into TV networks
The Justice Department is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC violated the Sherman Act by jointly suspending pooled television coverage of President Trump.
## Networks halted coverage after White House ban
The TV press pool suspended coverage on September twenty-first, shortly after Trump prohibited CNN, M S NOW and Politico from accessing the White House.
## Trump cited false reporting as reason
In a Truth Social post, the president said those outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies when covering the president or administration.

> shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America.
## Judge restored access but travel ban remains
A federal judge lifted restrictions on September twenty-fourth, but CNN and Politico reporters were still barred from traveling with the president on Air Force One.
## Press freedom advocate calls investigation improper
Seth Stern, chief of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, called the DOJ investigation nonsense and said Trump is weaponizing the agency against networks.

> Trump is weaponizing the DOJ to pressure the networks he calls the 'enemy of the people' to stay at the White House.
## Outlets file lawsuit over White House ban
CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration over its ban of their reporters from White House grounds, escalating the ongoing dispute over press rights.
## Key takeaway

The Justice Department is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC violated antitrust law by jointly suspending White House TV pool coverage after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.