President Donald Trump announced a ban on reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico entering the White House. The decision was made on Friday, and reporters from the three outlets were denied access starting Saturday. Trump said the outlets had covered him in ways he found unacceptable, calling their reporting fake news. He wrote on Truth Social that the ban was a result of what he called their constant reporting of “fake news” and accused news organizations of reporting fiction and lies.
Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office that he considered reporting by the three organizations false. He said the country needed what he described as honest news.
Reporters from all three news organizations attempted to enter the White House on Saturday, Sept. 19, but were not allowed in, according to a report from Yahoo News. MS Now correspondent Akayla Gardner said her badge was disabled at a security checkpoint, France 24 reported. CNN correspondent Betsy Klein also reported being turned away, with a security officer telling her her badge had been deactivated. Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied access, and her press credential was confiscated.
The White House staff were reportedly surprised by the ban, though the press office took it seriously. CNN reported that many White House staff members learned of Trump’s decision through his Truth Social post and were left scrambling to respond.
MS Now issued a statement saying it would defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism. CNN also said it would continue to report on the government without fear or favor. Politico said it stood by its White House reporters and would vigorously defend its First Amendment rights.
The White House Correspondents’ Association called on the administration to immediately restore the three organizations’ access and cited constitutional protections for the press. Bruce D. Brown of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said a ban like this would be flatly unconstitutional. He said that once the White House invites some journalists, it cannot bar others based on their reporting.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Jacqui Heinrich said Americans must be able to scrutinize elected officials through a free and independent press regardless of whether government officials approve of the coverage.
This move follows Trump’s long-standing criticism of mainstream media and his past legal actions against news outlets. He had previously revoked CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House credential during his first term, but a federal judge ordered the government to temporarily restore it. Trump also barred The Associated Press from some presidential events in 2025 after the organization continued to refer to the Gulf of Mexico while also noting Trump’s order to call it the Gulf of America.
The Associated Press sued over those restrictions. The case remained in litigation after an appeals court stayed much of a lower court order favoring the AP while the appeal proceeded.
The ban comes less than two months before the November midterm elections. His administration has also tightened controls on which outlets can cover events, especially in small spaces like the Oval Office. In February 2025, the White House took control of selecting the rotating press pool that covers the president at events where space is limited, a role previously handled by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
The decision has sparked criticism and legal threats from press freedom advocates. The three affected news organizations have signaled that they may contest the ban under First Amendment protections.
The three banned outlets have all vowed to continue their reporting and fight for access. MS Now said the White House belongs to the American people and said it would take steps to defend its First Amendment rights and independent journalism.
The situation has drawn attention to how the press interacts with government officials and what limits are acceptable. As of Sept. 20, the constitutional dispute over this new ban had not yet been resolved by a court.
IMAGE: The White House from Washington, DC CC0