Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: L. Stone
United States President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are being barred from the White House, accusing the three news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news” and “fiction and lies” about his administration.
Trump made the announcement on Friday, September 18, 2026, in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying the restrictions would take effect immediately. He also warned that other media organisations could face similar action, although he did not provide a formal list or explain precisely how the restrictions would be implemented.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House,” Trump wrote. He said media organisations should not be permitted to “constantly write or report FICTION and LIES” when covering the president, his administration or the United States.
Trump later defended the decision while speaking with reporters at the White House, saying the action was based on what he described as cumulative coverage by the three organisations. He accused the outlets of deliberately producing negative reports about his administration and suggested that additional news organisations could eventually be excluded.
When questioned about the possibility of further restrictions, Trump specifically criticised The New York Times and The Washington Post, calling them “fake news” outlets. He did not announce an immediate ban on either organisation, but his comments indicated that other media organisations could become targets of similar restrictions.
The announcement immediately raised questions about the scope and legal basis of the proposed restrictions. It was not initially clear whether the ban would prevent reporters from entering the White House complex, participating in presidential events, attending briefings, or accessing particular areas such as the Oval Office and Air Force One.
CNN and Politico quickly rejected the move. CNN said it stood behind its White House reporting team and described its reporting as fair and accurate. The network said journalists have a constitutional right to report on the government without interference. Politico said it would continue covering the Trump administration and future administrations and would defend what it described as its First Amendment rights.
MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, had not immediately issued a public response when several reports were published following Trump's announcement. The White House also provided no detailed explanation beyond the president's public statements.
The White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents journalists covering the presidency, also objected to the announced restrictions. Its president, Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, said constitutional protection for the press should not depend on whether a president approves of a news organisation’s coverage, reporting or questions.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of a long-running conflict between Trump and sections of the American news media. During both his first and second presidential terms, Trump has repeatedly accused major news organisations of unfair coverage and has challenged journalists and outlets over reporting that he considers inaccurate or hostile.
The current dispute also follows previous battles over White House press access. In 2018, during Trump's first administration, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta temporarily lost his White House press credentials after a confrontation with the president during a news conference. Acosta was later allowed to return after legal proceedings over the credential.
In February 2025, Trump's administration also restricted Associated Press journalists from certain presidential events after the organisation declined to adopt the administration's preferred terminology, “Gulf of America,” for the body of water historically known as the Gulf of Mexico. The AP challenged the restrictions in court.
Those earlier disputes have become part of a wider legal debate over the extent to which a presidential administration can control access to government facilities and events while complying with constitutional protections for freedom of the press.
The legal position is not identical for every type of presidential access. Courts have considered different standards depending on whether journalists are seeking access to general White House press facilities or more restricted presidential spaces and events. Previous litigation involving White House press credentials has examined both First Amendment protections and procedural requirements surrounding the removal of journalists from government-controlled access.
The latest announcement is therefore expected to generate further legal questions if the administration moves from Trump's public declaration to formal restrictions against the three organisations. CNN and Politico have indicated that they are prepared to defend their reporting and constitutional rights.
Trump's decision has also drawn criticism from press-freedom organisations. Reporters Without Borders said press access should not depend on whether a president approves of a publication's coverage and said it was examining possible legal responses. Amnesty International likewise accused the administration of attempting to restrict scrutiny of government actions.
Trump, however, has maintained that the issue is not legitimate journalism but what he regards as deliberately false reporting. He has repeatedly argued that media organisations that publish what he considers inaccurate or excessively negative accounts of his administration should face consequences.
The dispute also raises practical questions about how the White House will provide information to the public if particular independent news organisations are excluded. Presidential administrations routinely interact with a broad range of reporters, including journalists from television networks, newspapers, digital publications, wire services and international media organisations.
The White House has increasingly exercised greater control over which journalists participate in certain presidential press activities. That approach has already generated disputes with media organisations and journalism groups over whether government officials can selectively determine which reporters receive access.
For CNN, MS NOW and Politico, the immediate issue is whether Trump's announcement will translate into a comprehensive exclusion from the White House or whether access will continue in some circumstances while the dispute moves into legal and administrative channels. Reports following the announcement indicated that CNN journalists were still able to work from the White House grounds, underscoring uncertainty about how broadly the proposed ban had initially been implemented.
Trump has not indicated that his criticism of the media will end with the three organisations named in his announcement. His warning that additional “Fake News Media Outlets” could follow leaves open the possibility of further confrontations between the administration and major news organisations.
The developments have placed the relationship between the Trump administration and the American press under renewed scrutiny, with the central dispute now extending beyond disagreements over individual reports to questions about government access, press independence and the constitutional protections surrounding journalism in the United States.
Stone Reporters correspondent
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