The US Justice Department has announced an investigation into several major television networks to determine whether their recent decision to suspend live coverage of former President Donald Trump constitutes a violation of federal antitrust law. This probe follows the Trump administration’s July move to revoke credentials for reporters from CNN, MS Today and Politico, which prompted the networks to halt their shared pool coverage for a brief period.
The networks impacted include ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, all of which were requested to submit communications related to the pool. DoJ officials say that the boycott of shared coverage could potentially infringe the Sherman Act, which prohibits monopolistic business practices. The antitrust division is examining whether the networks acted collectively to exclude competitors.
Historically, members of the presidential press pool share footage and reporting with each other, a practice that helps the media present coverage to the public cost‑effectively. A spokesperson for the department said that the investigation is purely to assess possible violations of antitrust statutes and has not indicated any wrongdoing yet.
Trump had previously blocked CNN, MS Today and Politico from the White House after accusing them of fabricating false stories about his staff. The ban was later lifted following a court ruling, after the outlets sued claiming a First Amendment violation. The administration’s broader strategy has involved capping the access granted to news organisations, as seen in the February restriction of AP reporters from the Oval Office.
