Trump is Banning CNN, MS Now and Politico From White House

US President Donald Trump said he is immediately banning CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House, in the latest step in his strained relationship with parts of the US media.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the outlets “constantly write or report fiction or lies” about his administration. He did not cite specific stories or explain what the ban would cover. It was also unclear whether the move would restrict employees from entering the White House grounds.

Reporters from Politico and CNN were still on the White House grounds shortly after the announcement. A CNN crew was also reported to be travelling with Vice-President JD Vance to and from an event in Iowa.

Trump wrote that media organisations should not “constantly” publish what he described as falsehoods when covering the president, the Trump administration or the United States. He added that “Other news outlets to follow.”

Announcement On Truth Social

When asked about the ban in the Oval Office, Trump said there was “no reason” for announcing it on Friday afternoon.

He said the decision reflected “cumulative stories over the last few years”, adding: “You get sick of it.” Trump again suggested that other outlets “may be others to join them”, but did not identify which organisations.

Trump also indicated legal action could follow. He said: “I think it’s good to point it out, whether it survives or doesn’t.” He added that he did not believe “a court should allow fake news to be written day after day after day.”

White House Access Unclear

It remained uncertain whether the ban would apply to White House press access and, if so, what practical effect it would have. Trump’s post did not specify whether the change would extend to the White House press pool or to other forms of access granted to journalists and media staff.

The statement did not mention any particular reporting that prompted the decision.

Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly clashed with members of the White House press corps since he returned to office in January 2025.

In February, the White House said it was taking back control of the press pool that has access to Trump, a system that had been managed for more than a century by the White House Correspondent’s Association. The same month, the administration moved to bar Associated Press reporters and photographers from limited-access areas such as the Oval Office or Air Force One after the outlet used the term “Gulf of Mexico” rather than “Gulf of America”. The Associated Press later filed a lawsuit, which remains ongoing.

Earlier Clashes With The Press

Trump has also frequently criticised reporters in the Oval Office and on Air Force One, at times describing them as “fake news” and “rude”.

In his first term, Trump banned CNN correspondent Jim Acosta from the White House, before their credentials were restored after CNN sued.

On Friday afternoon, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University said Trump’s action was unlikely to stand up in court. The institute said that, given prior rulings against him on similar issues, Trump should have learned the lesson “by now”. It added that if Trump sought to expel news organisations from the press pool, the move would be unconstitutional because the press pool is a “public forum” under the First Amendment, meaning the president cannot exclude journalists based on their viewpoints.

Trump has also taken legal action against a number of US and international news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the BBC. The BBC said it had contacted the White House for comment on Trump’s announcement.

Join the discussion?

19 September 2026