Archive · 22 Sep 2026
US Broadcasters Suspend Trump Coverage After White House Ban
The White House stopped journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from entering its grounds.
Their access passes were taken away after President Donald Trump announced a ban.
The three news organizations sued, saying the decision violated the First Amendment.
Five major television networks then paused their shared system for covering the White House.
This system lets one broadcaster provide video for all the networks.
Because the pool was suspended, reports said viewers would not receive pooled coverage of Trump’s planned trip to New York.
Trump said he was targeting fake news, not the free press.
The White House later started an online stream called “Trump TV.”
CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House after their journalists’ access passes were confiscated.
The three outlets filed a lawsuit arguing that the ban violated the First Amendment and threatened independent journalism.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC suspended their rotating White House television pool in solidarity with CNN.
The suspension meant no pooled television coverage of Trump’s scheduled New York trip to the United Nations General Assembly, including reported travel and helipad events.
Trump defended the restrictions, calling targeted media “fake news,” while the White House launched an online stream branded “Trump TV.”
- Who
- President Donald Trump, the Trump administration, CNN, MS NOW, Politico, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC; Vice President JD Vance also defended the restrictions.
- What
- The White House barred three outlets, those outlets filed a First Amendment lawsuit, and five broadcasters suspended their rotating White House television pool.
- When
- Trump announced the ban on Friday; journalists were denied entry and had their passes confiscated on Saturday; the broadcasters suspended pool coverage on Monday; a federal judge was scheduled to hear the complaint on Wednesday.
- Where
- The White House and presidential complex in Washington; the suspended coverage concerned Trump’s scheduled trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The outlets said their credentials were revoked because the White House objected to their reporting. Trump said the action addressed what he called fake news and cited cumulative stories he said sought to diminish Republicans and a Republican administration.
News organizations
Trump administration
Reason for the ban
News organizations
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said the White House revoked their journalists’ credentials without notice or process because it objected to their reporting.
Trump administration
Trump said the restrictions targeted “fake news,” citing cumulative stories over the previous two years and alleging efforts to diminish Republicans and a Republican administration.
Press freedom
News organizations
The three outlets described the ban as a direct assault on the First Amendment and warned that it threatened independent journalism free from government interference.
Trump administration
Trump said the White House was not attacking the free press, while JD Vance said the outlets could still report and retain freedom of speech despite losing access to a White House office.
Shared television coverage
News organizations
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said the public needs accurate, independent information and that administrations should not restrict outlets because they dislike their reporting.
Trump administration
The administration defended restricting access to the outlets, and Trump warned that other media organizations could face similar restrictions.
- Restricted outlets
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico
- Access action
- Journalists from the three outlets were denied entry to the White House grounds and had their access passes confiscated.
- Legal action
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit seeking an immediate reversal of the ban and a declaration that it violated the First Amendment.
- Pool suspension
- ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC suspended the rotating White House television pool.
- Scheduled pool broadcaster
- CNN was scheduled to provide the White House television pool on Monday.
- Coverage consequence
- Reports said the suspension removed pooled television coverage of Trump’s scheduled New York trip and related events.
- Alternative stream
- The White House launched an online stream called “Trump TV” on Monday evening.
