US Justice Department Launches Antitrust Inquiry Into Major TV Networks Over Trump Coverage Boycott

US President Donald Trump speaks with media before boarding Marine One as he travels to Grand Island, Nebraska, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on October 5, 2026.

The United States Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into television networks following their decision to halt coverage of President Donald Trump last month. Emily Convington, a spokesperson for the department, stated on Saturday that authorities are examining whether the networks breached federal antitrust laws through their coordinated boycott.

The boycott occurred in response to a White House decision to revoke press credentials from three news organisations, including CNN. The networks currently under investigation comprise ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, according to Convington. Citing antitrust legislation, she explained that group boycotts among commercial competitors can potentially violate the Sherman Act, noting that the Antitrust Division is investigating to determine if these regulations were broken.

This probe represents the latest development in ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major news organisations. President Donald Trump has frequently labeled mainstream media outlets as "fake news" and regularly engages in disputes with reporters. This legal action introduces new legal and potential financial pressures on media companies to maintain presidential coverage, even amidst disagreements regarding White House policies and actions.

The targeted networks did not issue an immediate comment regarding the announcement. The investigation follows an incident last month where the primary television pool of five broadcasters suspended presidential coverage after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from accessing the White House. On September 19, the White House asserted that covering the president was a privilege rather than a right. In response, the affected outlets filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the exclusions violated the First Amendment and constituted retaliation for their reporting.

CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC form the primary White House television pool, sharing coverage costs, organizing duties collectively, and distributing footage to media outlets nationwide. In solidarity with the banned organisations, all five networks suspended coverage and declined to provide replacement reporting. Access was restored on September 24 after US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled the ban likely unconstitutional, ordering the administration to immediately reinstate press credentials. Despite this, ongoing disputes regarding access to specific presidential events and pool assignments have persisted.

Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists' Americas director, criticized the government's decision to launch the investigation on Saturday. Posting on X, Zamora stated that the government should not weaponize antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets that are defending press access, emphasizing that the public's right to know relies upon such access.