Trump Announces White House Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
The publication disputed Trump’s claim that it had received improper government subsidies, saying the allegation was false and had previously been debunked.
Photo: SKY News.
By Robert Mutasi
WASHINGTON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
United States of America President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will be barred from the White House, accusing the three news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.”
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Friday, September 18, saying the ban would take effect immediately. He also warned that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
Trump said the outlets should not be allowed to “write or report” what he characterised as fiction and lies about his administration and the United States.
Speaking to reporters at the White House later Friday, Trump defended the decision and said he did not want the targeted organisations in his office or at the White House.
The president also suggested that additional outlets could be targeted, mentioning The New York Times and The Washington Post during his remarks to reporters.
CNN rejected the move and said it stood behind its White House reporting team.
The network said it had a constitutional right to cover the government without interference and warned that implementing the threatened ban would amount to an unlawful restriction on press freedom.
Politico also said it would continue covering the Trump administration and future administrations while defending its rights under the First Amendment.
The publication disputed Trump’s claim that it had received improper government subsidies, saying the allegation was false and had previously been debunked.
The White House Correspondents’ Association also opposed the proposed restrictions, saying press access should not depend on whether a president approves of a news organisation’s coverage.
Despite Trump’s announcement, reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were still present at the White House later on Friday, with no immediate indication that their press credentials had been revoked. The precise practical scope of the announced ban therefore remained unclear.
The dispute is the latest escalation in Trump’s long-running conflict with sections of the US news media.
During his first administration, Trump sought to restrict CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House access, prompting a legal challenge. In February 2025, his administration also restricted Associated Press access to certain presidential events after the news organisation declined to adopt the administration’s preferred name, “Gulf of America,” for the Gulf of Mexico.
The latest announcement is expected to face legal challenges because of First Amendment protections for freedom of the press. Legal disputes over presidential control of press access have previously focused on whether the government can exclude journalists because of the content or viewpoint of their reporting.
Trump has maintained that his actions are aimed at what he considers inaccurate or unfair coverage of his administration.
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