Justice Department opens antitrust probe as White House press-access fight escalates

CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein works in the CNN workspace outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24, 2026. CNN and MS NOW said their reporters were allowed back into the White House on Thursday after a judge ordered that their access be restored.Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty ImagesThe U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into whether the White House television press pool's decision to suspend coverage of President Donald Trump violated antitrust laws. The Justice Department said in a statement that it is examining whether the White House TV press pool — a group of broadcasters including CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS and NBC — violated the Sherman Act by temporarily halting pooled TV coverage of Trump.The Sherman Act is a federal law that prohibits certain agreements that unreasonably restrain trade. Introduced in the 1890s, the law has rarely been applied to media organizations, particularly regarding their coverage. Members of the press pool did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment sent outside of normal business hours. The DOJ investigation follows the White House television press pool ceased its coverage of Trump on Sep...