The decision follows a Thursday night ruling by US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who temporarily struck down a White House ban that had barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the presidential press pool. The judge’s order applied only to hard passes onto White House grounds and did not address Air Force One, leaving the administration free to adjust the aircraft’s media lineup.
Under the new guidance released Friday night, Real America’s Voice News – a conservative outlet not affiliated with the Washington-based press pool – will occupy the seat traditionally reserved for a network like CNN during the President’s flight to Knoxville.
Trump’s administration has repeatedly targeted outlets that criticize him, most recently banning AP reporters from White House events over a dispute about the name of the Gulf of Mexico. The ban on the three outlets was lifted only after the judge’s temporary ruling, and the case now moves to appeal.
White House officials did not comment on the decision, but the guidance indicates the ban on the press pool remains in place for the duration of the flight.
The change will affect the live coverage of the University of Tennessee‑Texas game, with the new network expected to provide the feed for national audiences. The legal battle over press access is expected to continue as the case proceeds to the appellate courts.