Trump Says CNN, MS NOW and Politico Are Banned From the White House

President Donald Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are banned from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing the three news organizations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.” He also warned that additional media outlets could face similar restrictions. 

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on September 18, saying that news organizations should not be allowed to publish what he called “fiction and lies” about the president, his administration or the United States. He ended the post by saying that “other Fake News Media Outlets” would follow. 

What exactly has Trump announced?

The president said the ban applies immediately to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. However, as of Friday afternoon, it was not yet clear how the White House intended to enforce it.

CNN reported that there was no immediate indication that the administration had taken concrete steps to remove reporters or revoke credentials, while Bloomberg also noted that the mechanics of the restriction remained unclear. 

That distinction matters. A public announcement that an outlet is “banned” does not by itself explain whether journalists will lose White House credentials, be excluded from the briefing room, be removed from press-pool rotations, or be denied access only to selected presidential events.

The White House had not immediately provided a detailed explanation of the policy. Representatives of the affected outlets also did not immediately comment in the first reports. 

Why did Trump target these outlets?

Trump accused the three organizations of repeatedly reporting information he considers false or unfair.

His statement specifically attacked CNN and MS NOW and also criticized Politico, including over government subscriptions purchased during the Biden administration. Trump characterized those subscriptions as improper, though his broader accusation against the outlets was presented without detailed evidence tied to specific recent stories. 

The White House move continues a long-running conflict between Trump and major news organizations whose coverage he has frequently criticized.

Not the first dispute over White House press access

This is not the first time the Trump administration has restricted the access of a major news organization.

In 2025, the Associated Press was excluded from certain presidential events and White House press-pool access after the news organization continued referring to the Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Trump’s decision to rename it the Gulf of America for U.S. government purposes. That dispute led to litigation over press access. 

The administration has also changed the system used to determine which organizations participate in the White House press pool and has had other disputes with journalists and media organizations over access and coverage. 

First Amendment questions

Trump’s latest announcement is likely to raise significant legal questions involving the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Courts have previously held that when the White House provides press access, decisions about who receives credentials cannot simply be arbitrary. Any actual removal of access based specifically on the content of a news organization’s reporting could therefore face legal scrutiny. 

The Associated Press described the announcement as another test of constitutional protections for the press, while Reuters reported that the move is expected to face scrutiny over whether it violates First Amendment rights. 

Whether a court challenge emerges will depend in part on how the White House implements Trump’s announcement.

More outlets could be targeted

Trump did not identify which other news organizations might be next.

His statement simply said that additional outlets he considers “fake news” could follow.

That leaves open the possibility that Friday’s announcement could expand beyond CNN, MS NOW and Politico, although no additional organizations had been formally named at the time of publication. 

For now, the central unanswered question is not whether Trump announced the ban — he clearly did — but how broadly the White House will attempt to enforce it and whether the affected news organizations will challenge those restrictions in court.

Sources: Associated Press; Reuters; Bloomberg; The Washington Post; CNN

By NJ RADAR Team