Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Trump Ban Blocks CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House
President Donald Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico could no longer enter the White House.
He said the outlets published fake or dishonest news about him.
The next morning, reporters from the outlets were reportedly stopped and had their press passes taken away.
MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said her badge was turned off at a security checkpoint.
Another MS NOW worker got inside, but a photographer was reportedly stopped.
The news organizations said the ban interfered with their constitutional right to report.
They said they would keep covering the government and might ask a court to overturn the restrictions.
The disagreement is about how much control a president should have over journalists who cover the White House.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House over what he called “fake news.”
Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were reportedly denied access Saturday, with the outlets saying their press passes were confiscated.
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner said her badge was disabled after she passed through two gates, while an MS NOW producer entered the grounds.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said the restrictions violated First Amendment protections and indicated they might challenge the ban in court.
Trump defended the action by accusing the outlets of publishing unfavorable, fictional or dishonest coverage, while the outlets said they would continue covering his administration.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, CNN, MS NOW, Politico and their White House journalists, including MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner.
- What
- The White House denied access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after Trump announced a ban on the outlets.
- When
- Trump announced the ban Friday; the access denials were reported Saturday morning, with one article identifying the date as September 19.
- Where
- The White House grounds in Washington, D.C.
- Why
- Trump cited what he called fake, fictional, dishonest and unfavorable news coverage; the outlets said the restrictions violated First Amendment protections.
Press Freedom Arguments
Trump’s Media Criticism
White House access
Press Freedom Arguments
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said blocking their journalists interfered with constitutional protections for a free press and independent reporting.
Trump’s Media Criticism
Trump said the outlets should not be allowed to cover the president while reporting what he considers fiction, lies and fake news.
Response to the ban
Press Freedom Arguments
The outlets said they would continue covering the Trump administration and indicated they may challenge the restrictions in court.
Trump’s Media Criticism
Trump said other news outlets could also face restrictions and argued that the country needs honest news.
- Banned outlets
- Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House.
- Reported enforcement
- Journalists from all three outlets were reportedly denied access Saturday and had press passes confiscated.
- MS NOW correspondent
- Akayla Gardner said an officer told her that her badge had been disabled and took it after she reached a scanning point.
- MS NOW staff access
- An MS NOW producer entered the grounds, while a photographer’s badge was reportedly disabled.
- Trump’s justification
- Trump accused the outlets of constant fake-news reporting and of publishing fiction and lies.
- Outlets’ response
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico said they would defend their First Amendment rights; CNN and MS NOW said they would continue reporting.
- Earlier court ruling
- A federal court previously ordered the restoration of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House press pass during Trump’s first term.
Sources
MS NOW journalists barred from White House grounds after Trump threatens ban over ‘fake news’
White House turns away CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists after Trump announces ban
After Trump Ban, MS NOW Says Its Journalists Were Denied Access to the White House Grounds
