Five major United States television networks have suspended pooled coverage of President Donald Trump’s White House activities following the administration’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.

ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC announced the decision on Monday, with CNN scheduled to provide the television pool coverage for the day. The pool system allows one broadcaster to film presidential events and share the footage with other television outlets.

The networks said the public had a strong interest in receiving accurate and independent information about the government and that news organisations should not be restricted because of their reporting.

The decision meant that the television pool would not provide coverage of Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he was scheduled to meet several foreign leaders.

The development followed Trump’s announcement on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House. Journalists from the three organisations were subsequently denied access to the White House grounds, with their press credentials revoked.

The three media organisations have filed a federal lawsuit against Trump and members of his administration, seeking to overturn the ban. They argued that the decision violated protections for free speech and a free press under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Trump defended the decision, saying the administration was targeting what he described as “fake news” rather than the free press. He has also accused the affected outlets of publishing coverage that he considers unfair.

Vice President JD Vance similarly defended the administration’s position, saying the outlets remained free to report but would no longer have offices inside the White House.

The White House has not announced a replacement for the television pool. The participating networks said other pool coverage, including congressional and selected events outside Washington, would continue as normal.

The dispute has drawn criticism from media organisations and press-freedom groups, while the lawsuit by CNN, MS NOW and Politico is now before a federal court in Washington, D.C.