Trump bans CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from White House press access

Announcement on Truth Social

On Friday, September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that news outlets CNN, MSNOW, and Politico are barred from the White House. Trump posted the decision on his Truth Social account, stating that the order took effect immediately and describing the organizations as distributors of falsehoods. In the post, Trump stated that media organizations should not be permitted to publish fiction regarding his administration or the country. He targeted MSNOW by asserting that the network changed its name from MSNBC due to falling viewership and credibility. Trump also singled out Politico, claiming the outlet received an 8 million dollar government subscription during the administration of Joe Biden. He warned that additional news organizations would face similar bans.

Trump explained his reasoning in a statement on Truth Social on Friday.

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.

Legal disputes and media actions

The exclusion follows previous efforts by Trump to restrict news organizations and challenge critical coverage. Trump has repeatedly asked television broadcasters to remove comedy and news programs that satirize or criticize his administration. He has also petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to revoke broadcasting licenses from stations whose programming he opposed. Similar access disputes have previously reached the federal judiciary. In June 2025, a court ruled that the White House had the authority to bar the Associated Press after the news agency refused to adopt Trump's preferred term, Gulf of America, in place of the Gulf of Mexico. The Associated Press had argued that the measure violated freedom of the press and free speech, but the court rejected those claims.

Industry response and publisher criticism

CNN, MSNOW, Politico, and the National Press Club did not respond to requests for comment following the announcement. Reporters noted that CNN and MSNOW journalists remained inside the Executive Mansion immediately after the post was published. Meanwhile, New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger published an essay marking the 175th anniversary of the newspaper, addressing the White House's stance toward journalism. Sulzberger, whose family has managed the newspaper for 130 years, called Trump the most hostile president to the press in modern American history. He wrote that Trump accuses journalists of treason, files lawsuits against outlets over unfavourable reporting, and directs government agencies to investigate reporters.

Sulzberger described the administration's actions in his editorial.

He personally sues news organizations when he dislikes their coverage. And he orders his administration to use the tools of government power to investigate journalists, subpoena them, and criminally prosecute them for simply doing their jobs.

Political scrutiny and Iran reporting

The media bans coincide with ongoing coverage of federal policy, low polling figures ahead of the November midterm elections, and military action in Iran. Critical coverage of the conflict has included disclosures regarding casualties. A report by the Washington Post, citing six defense officials, stated that at least 22 US service members have died in the war against Iran. This total exceeds the public count in the Pentagon's Defense Casualty Analysis System database by four personnel. The report also identified three US contractors who died in the region since the outbreak of hostilities. Circumstances, identities, and specific locations of the deaths have not been released by the Pentagon, where official line-of-duty determinations govern family benefits.