Donald Trump has announced a ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the organisations of publishing “fake news” and warning that other outlets could face similar action.
The US president made the announcement on Truth Social on Friday, September 18, saying the three organisations were being excluded “effective immediately” because of their coverage of his administration.
Trump offered no specific example of reporting that had prompted the decision. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office shortly afterwards, he said it was the result of “cumulative stories over the past few years” and that he had become tired of what he considered unfavourable coverage.
It remained unclear how the ban would be enforced. Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were still working on White House grounds later on Friday, with no immediate indication that their passes had been revoked.
CNN said it stood behind its White House team and its “fair and accurate reporting”, adding that it had a constitutional right to report without government interference. Politico said it would continue to cover the White House and would defend its First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict its work.
The White House Correspondents’ Association also defended the journalists, saying press freedom did not depend on whether the president approved of an organisation’s coverage or the questions asked by its reporters.
Legal experts warned that excluding outlets because of their reporting could raise serious First Amendment issues. The announcement follows previous disputes between the Trump administration and news organisations, including a continuing legal battle over restrictions placed on Associated Press reporters after the agency declined to adopt the president’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.
