Trump says he’s banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House

Trump Announces Immediate White House Ban on CNN, MSNOW and Politico

Cybersecarmor.com – President Donald Trump said Sept. 18 that reporters from CNN, MSNOW and Politico will no longer be permitted at the White House, describing the decision as effective immediately and signaling that additional news organizations could face similar restrictions.

The president made the announcement in a Truth Social post, accusing the three outlets of publishing what he called false coverage. He did not identify specific articles, broadcasts or reports that led to the ban.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America.”

Trump also suggested the action would not be limited to the three organizations named in his post.

“Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”

Questions about access and press coverage

The announcement raises immediate questions about how the restrictions would be applied inside the White House press operation, including access to briefings, events and the president’s travel pool. The White House Correspondents’ Association represents journalists covering the administration, while the White House determines credentials and access for many official events.

Representatives for CNN, MSNOW and Politico did not immediately provide public responses to the announcement. The White House Correspondents’ Association also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The decision comes during a period of difficult political conditions for Trump and congressional Republicans. Most polling has placed the president’s approval rating near or at record lows. Republicans also face major challenges in their effort to maintain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

Democrats are broadly favored to win control of the House, while several competitive contests in states that have typically supported Republican candidates have increased attention on the fight for the Senate. Media coverage of those political pressures has been a frequent source of tension between Trump and news organizations.

A long-running conflict with the press

Trump has repeatedly used the term “fake news” to criticize reporting he believes is inaccurate or unfair. His disputes have often involved individual reporters, television networks and national newspapers, making his latest statement part of a broader and continuing conflict between his administration and major media outlets.

One recent example involved a CNN reporter whom Trump repeatedly told to “be quiet” during an exchange captured on video. Such confrontations have become a familiar feature of Trump’s relationship with journalists, particularly when questions concern coverage he disputes.

After returning to the White House, Trump also removed The Associated Press from the White House press pool. The pool provides especially close access to the president and distributes coverage to other news organizations. The dispute followed the AP’s refusal to revise its style guidance after Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

The AP episode illustrated the practical importance of White House access. Limits on participation in the press pool can affect a news organization’s ability to attend certain events directly, ask questions in person and provide immediate reporting from presidential appearances.

Legal and investigative disputes

The administration’s clashes with media organizations have extended beyond access disputes. In 2025, Trump filed a $15 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times over its coverage of him.

In July, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters in an effort to require grand jury testimony. The action followed coverage involving security concerns tied to an Air Force One aircraft given to Trump by Qatar. The Justice Department later withdrew those subpoenas.

Those events, along with the new White House ban, underscore the unusual level of conflict between the president and prominent national news organizations. Trump’s Sept. 18 statement did not explain whether the affected outlets would be barred from all White House grounds, excluded from particular events or subject to other limits on credentials.

It also remains unclear whether the administration plans to establish a formal procedure for reviewing the restrictions or identifying the standards that could lead to bans involving other outlets. For reporters assigned to the White House, access rules can shape what questions are asked, which events can be observed directly and how quickly the public receives information about presidential actions.

The announced ban places the administration’s approach to press access under renewed scrutiny as the White House, major news organizations and the press corps await further details on how the policy will be carried out.