Five television networks challenge the White House, while CNN and two media outlets launch a legal battle

ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC, five of the major television networks in the United States, announced that they would stop covering presidential activities after CNN was denied access to the White House.

In a joint statement, the networks emphasized that the public must be able to receive accurate and independent information about the government’s activities. According to them, no administration can exclude a media organization because of how it reports.

The agreement between these networks provides for them to rotate coverage of the president’s engagements and to provide footage to other broadcasters as well. However, in this case, none of them agreed to take on CNN’s role.

The dispute has now also taken a legal turn. CNN, Ms. Now and Politico, whose access to the White House was revoked by order of President Trump, have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, citing the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the principle of press freedom.

Through the lawsuit, the media organizations are seeking the immediate restoration of their access, arguing that the exclusion was imposed without warning and without giving them an opportunity to present their position.

Donald Trump, for his part, denies that the administration he leads is waging an attack on the media.

In a post on his social media network, the U.S. president said that the White House is not confronting the free press, but rather what he calls “fake news,” describing the phenomenon as a threat to national security.