The United States Department of Justice has launched an investigation into five major television networks that halted their coverage of President Donald Trump last month, a department spokesperson confirmed on Saturday.
Officials are examining whether the boycott by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News breached federal antitrust legislation. The networks took the step after the White House revoked the press credentials of journalists from three news organisations.
“Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” Justice Department spokesperson Emily Convington said. “The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.”
The five networks form the core White House television pool, sharing production costs, taking turns handling pool duties, and distributing recorded material nationwide. All five suspended presidential broadcasts in solidarity and refused to supply replacement coverage after CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House.
The White House stated on September 19 that covering the presidency was a “privilege – not a right”. The excluded outlets subsequently filed a legal challenge, asserting that the administration had retaliated against their coverage in violation of the First Amendment.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the administration to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the credentials, finding the exclusion likely unconstitutional. The White House complied on September 24, although disagreements concerning pool rotations and access to specific events continued.
The networks did not immediately comment on the inquiry. Jose Zamora, Americas director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, criticised the move on X, stating that authorities should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news organisations defending press access.
