Trump Says CNN, MS NOW and Politico Are Banned From White House, Threatens More Outlets
US President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are barred from the White House, accusing the news organisations of publishing what he described as “fake news” about him and his administration.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, September 18, saying the restrictions would take effect immediately. He also warned that other media outlets could face similar action.
“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 wrote.
The president did not provide specific examples of reports from the three outlets that he considered false in the post.
Trump Criticises Politico Over $8 Million Subscription
In the same statement, Trump accused Politico of receiving an “illegal” $8 million subscription from the US government under former President Joe Biden, alleging that the payment was intended to keep the outlet financially afloat.
Trump described the alleged arrangement as a record-setting payment and suggested it amounted to corruption. The post did not provide supporting documentation for the allegation.
He also claimed that MS NOW, which was formerly known as MSNBC, had changed its name because of declining viewership and credibility. Those remarks were part of Trump’s criticism of the outlets and were not independently established in the announcement.
Implementation of Ban Remains Unclear
Trump’s post did not explain how the restrictions would be implemented. The Associated Press reported that journalists from the targeted outlets were still on White House grounds later on Friday, with no immediate indication they were being removed.
The White House had not provided further details on the scope of the announced ban in the reports available at the time.
CNN and Politico Push Back
CNN said it stood behind its White House reporting team and argued that journalists have a constitutional right to cover the government without interference.
Politico also said it would continue reporting on the White House and would defend its First Amendment rights against attempts to restrict its work.
The announcement has renewed debate over press access and the limits of presidential authority. A federal appeals court ruled in the 1977 case Sherrill v. Knight that White House press access cannot be denied arbitrarily once press facilities are made available to credentialed journalists.
Trump Says More Media Outlets Could Be Targeted
Trump indicated that the restrictions could extend beyond CNN, MS NOW and Politico, writing that other media outlets could follow.
The announcement marks another confrontation between the president and news organisations whose reporting he has criticised. The Bureau Journal will continue to follow developments concerning the announced restrictions and responses from the affected media outlets.
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