Trump Bars 3 Outlets From White House, Seizing CNN and MS NOW Press Access
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 19
Trump Bars 3 Outlets From White House, Seizing CNN and MS NOW Press Access
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 19
Summary
CNN’s Betsy Klein and an MS NOW crew were turned away Saturday after their White House badges were deactivated or seized, a day after Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned “effective immediately.”
Secret Service officers told both reporters their access had been disabled and referred questions to the White House Press Office; one MS NOW producer’s badge still worked, suggesting uneven enforcement.
CNN and MS NOW said they will pursue legal action, calling the move an illegal assault on First Amendment protections and vowing to keep covering the administration.
First Amendment advocates said the ban is textbook viewpoint discrimination because the White House cannot admit some journalists while excluding others over unfavorable coverage.
The clash extends Trump’s second-term push to restrict press access as he faces pressure over the Iran war, rising gas prices and broader cost-of-living concerns.
Can independent media effectively report on the executive branch without physical access to the White House?
Banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico: Inside Trump’s 2026 White House Press Crackdown and Its National and Global Consequences
Overview
On September 18, 2026, President Trump abruptly banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing years of 'fake news.' This action disrupted the traditional press pool system, forced banned outlets to set up shadow bureaus outside the White House, and led them to decentralize their midterm election coverage. The White House Correspondents’ Association and affected news organizations quickly launched legal challenges, drawing on recent court victories for press freedom. Meanwhile, the administration threatened to expand bans to other major outlets, creating a chilling effect and undermining the independence of the press pool, as the White House began handpicking which media could participate.