Trump Excludes CNN, Politico, and MS NOW From White House Access

WHO:

Variety - MS NOW, CNN, and Politico filed suit against the federal government following Trump's ban on their access to the White House.

NBC News - MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner, CNN reporter Betsy Klein, and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett were denied access to the White House grounds after their badges were confiscated.

NBC News - Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) stated that he believes the press has an obligation to report fairly in response to Trump's media ban.

NBC News - MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner, CNN reporter Betsy Klein, and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett were denied access to the White House grounds.

NBC News - Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, stated that the ban was “pretty clearly unconstitutional.”

CNN - Mike Waltz, Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, defended the media ban, stating, “the president is absolutely within his rights to limit journalists to government facilities.”

CNN - National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. stated, “The First Amendment does not permit the government to pick and choose which journalists are allowed to do their jobs.”

NY Post - Barack Obama criticized President Trump for banning three media outlets from White House access.

NBC News - Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) stated that Trump is not violating the Constitution by banning the reporters.

NBC News - Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) criticized President Trump for his actions against the media.

NBC News - Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) commented on the media ban.

NBC News - Jacqui Heinreich, head of the White House Correspondents Association

Boston.com - Trump, MS NOW, CNN, Politico

NBC News - Trump, MS NOW, CNN, Politico

WHAT:

CNN - Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, stated that legal filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order would occur soon, with expectations for filings by the next day.

NBC News - Trump stated he would ban the three outlets due to their “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.”

NBC News - Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, described the ban as “pretty clearly unconstitutional” and predicted a potential legal challenge would succeed.

NBC News - Trump’s ban on MS NOW, CNN, and Politico is viewed as a potential violation of First Amendment rights, with legal experts suggesting that the outlets will likely prevail in court.

CNN - Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, indicated that legal filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order would occur soon.

NBC News - Journalists from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico had their White House badges confiscated on Saturday after Trump announced the ban.

NBC News - Trump described the banned outlets as engaging in “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.”

CNN - CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are preparing to take legal action against the ban, with legal experts suggesting they will likely prevail in court.

CNN - Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, indicated that legal filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order would occur soon.

NBC News - Trump accused the banned outlets of publishing "FICTION and LIES" about him during an Oval Office event.

Alternet - Trump stated he wanted to implement a "ban on the free press" in relation to the media ban.

CNN - Trump is scheduled to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2026.

CNN - Trump is scheduled to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, where CNN is set to act as the television pool.

NBC News - Trump followed through on his threat to ban the news outlets, which was announced on a Friday and enforced the next day.

NBC News - Sen. Cory Booker stated that President Trump is using the Justice Department “in unprecedented ways” to retaliate against reporters.

NBC News - Lawmakers are pushing back against the ban on journalists from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico.

Boston.com - Trump announced he would ban MS NOW, CNN, and Politico from White House access due to coverage he disliked.

NBC News - Journalists from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico were barred from accessing the White House grounds and had their passes confiscated.

WHERE:

NBC News - White House grounds

WHEN:

NBC News - The ban was announced on a Friday, and the access was denied on the following Saturday.

WHY:

CNN - The ban is viewed as a potential violation of First Amendment rights, with concerns that it could set a precedent for censorship under future administrations.

CNN - The ban is seen as an effort to silence coverage that Trump deems negative, with concerns that it could set a precedent for censorship under future administrations.

CNN - The ban is viewed as a potential violation of First Amendment rights, with concerns that it could set a precedent for censorship under future administrations.

Alternet - The media ban was widely condemned as an effort to shut down unflattering reporting about Trump and his administration ahead of the midterms.

NBC News - Sen. Cory Booker stated that President Trump “has no regard” for the First Amendment in light of the media ban.

NBC News - John Barrasso remarked that “the press has an obligation to report fairly” in response to the media ban.

NBC News - Jacqui Heinreich called for the administration to “immediately restore” access to the barred journalists.

NO_NEW_FACTS

Boston.com - Trump cited coverage he disliked as the reason for banning the news outlets.

HOW:

NBC News - The White House is facing accusations of violating the First Amendment with the media ban, as legal experts suggest that the outlets will likely prevail in court.

NBC News - Multiple high-level current and former White House staff members were unaware of Trump’s plan to ban the media outlets ahead of time.

CNN - Trump’s restrictions on media access are unprecedented, and his own statements may be used against him in court regarding viewpoint discrimination.

NBC News - Multiple high-level current and former White House staff members were unaware of Trump’s plan to ban the media outlets ahead of time.

CNN - The legal challenges are expected to demand that the press pool operates as it normally does, despite the ban.

NBC News - The enforcement of the ban involved confiscating the journalists' passes.

NBC News - The method of enforcement involved confiscating the journalists' passes.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 10:55 UTC)

MS NOW, CNN, and Politico have filed a lawsuit against the federal government following Trump's ban on their access to the White House. Adam Rose, the deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, announced that legal filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order are expected soon, possibly by tomorrow. The ban is being criticized as a potential violation of First Amendment rights, raising concerns about its implications for media freedom under future administrations.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 04:59 UTC)

President Trump announced plans to ban NBC News, CNN, and Politico, claiming their reporting is “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS,” which led to reporters Akayla Gardner, Betsy Klein, and Cheyenne Haslett being denied access to the White House grounds after their badges were confiscated. Jameel Jaffer, the director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, called the ban “pretty clearly unconstitutional” and suggested that a legal challenge could be successful. Interestingly, multiple high-level current and former White House staff members were reportedly unaware of Trump's intentions to implement this ban prior to the announcement.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 01:23 UTC)

Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming has expressed his belief that the press has a duty to report fairly in light of President Trump's recent media ban affecting MS NOW, CNN, and Politico, which is being viewed as a potential infringement on First Amendment rights. Legal experts suggest that these news outlets are likely to prevail in court, with filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order expected to be submitted soon. Concerns are growing that this ban, seen as an attempt to silence unfavorable coverage, could set a troubling precedent for censorship in future administrations, especially given the unprecedented nature of Trump's restrictions on media access.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 22:56 UTC)

Journalists from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico had their White House badges confiscated after Trump announced a ban on these outlets, which he accused of engaging in "constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS." Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, called the ban "pretty clearly unconstitutional." Notably, multiple high-level current and former White House staff members were unaware of Trump's plan to impose this media restriction ahead of time.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 21:56 UTC)

Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, defended the media ban by asserting that the president has the right to limit journalists to government facilities. In response, the National Press Club President, Mark Schoeff Jr., emphasized that the First Amendment does not allow the government to dictate which journalists can perform their duties, prompting CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to prepare for legal action against the ban. Legal experts believe these challenges will likely succeed in court, with filings for an injunction or temporary restraining order expected to be submitted soon, as concerns grow over potential violations of First Amendment rights.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 19:55 UTC)

Trump recently accused certain banned media outlets of spreading "FICTION and LIES" about him during an event in the Oval Office. He also expressed a desire to implement a "ban on the free press" in connection with this media ban, which has faced widespread condemnation for being an attempt to silence unflattering coverage ahead of the midterm elections. Critics argue that this move is aimed at stifling dissenting voices and controlling the narrative surrounding his administration.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 17:55 UTC)

Barack Obama has criticized Trump for banning three media outlets from accessing the White House, raising concerns about press freedom. In response to this situation, Senator Cory Booker stated that Trump “has no regard” for the First Amendment. Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2026.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 16:56 UTC)

Trump is scheduled to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. CNN will serve as the television pool for the event, providing coverage to audiences worldwide. This gathering is expected to draw significant attention as leaders from around the globe come together to discuss pressing international issues.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 15:56 UTC)

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso stated that Trump is not violating the Constitution by banning certain reporters, which he followed through on after announcing the ban on a Friday and enforcing it the very next day. Barrasso emphasized that “the press has an obligation to report fairly” in light of the media ban, which involved confiscating the journalists' passes. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussion about press freedom and accountability.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 14:56 UTC)

Senator Cory Booker criticized President Trump for his actions against the media, claiming that Trump is using the Justice Department in unprecedented ways to retaliate against reporters. In response to the media ban, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso emphasized that the press has an obligation to report fairly. Both comments highlight ongoing tensions between the administration and the media landscape.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 13:58 UTC)

Jacqui Heinreich, the head of the White House Correspondents Association, is calling for the administration to “immediately restore” access to journalists from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico. Lawmakers are pushing back against the ban that has restricted these journalists from covering important events. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between the media and the administration regarding press access.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 12:56 UTC)

Trump announced that he would ban MS NOW, CNN, and Politico from accessing the White House due to coverage he disliked, with the ban taking effect the following day. Journalists from these outlets were barred from the White House grounds and had their passes confiscated as part of the enforcement. This decision was made public on a Friday, leading to the denial of access on the subsequent Saturday.