Trump barred CNN from boarding Air Force One en route to Tennessee

White House announced that CNN will not join President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One presidential aircraft for his visit to Tennessee, and according to US media report was replaced by conservative news network Real America Voice News.

According to report, visit to Tennessee intended for watching college football game. Decision came after last week Trump barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from entering White House grounds, and US District Judge Timothy Kelly overturned ban with temporary order following networks' petition.

Work of president's joint television team, the pool, suspended after ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News announced they would not provide substitute team in place of CNN. Trump responded in post on Truth Social: 'White House is not initiating attack on free press, something I respect,' and added: 'It is initiating attack on fake news, thing that has grown like cancer in our beloved United States.'

Weija Jiang, who previously served as president of White House Correspondents Association, said: 'America cannot afford government television, that is why we need independent coverage.' At CNN, they clarified in statement that they fully stand behind network's White House team, and that US Constitution grants them right to cover without government interference. According to them, this is 'illegal move against this basic right, protected in Constitution.'