Trump says CNN, MS NOW and Politico will lose White House access, while the scope and legal basis of the restrictions remain unclear.
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the three news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news.” The announcement came in a post on Trump’s Truth Social account and was described by the president as effective immediately.
Trump said the outlets should not be permitted to “write or report” what he characterised as “fiction and lies” about the president, his administration or the United States. He did not identify specific reports by CNN, MS NOW or Politico that prompted the decision. He also warned that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
The exact scope of the proposed ban was not immediately clear. Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office that he did not want journalists from the three organisations in his office or at the White House, but reporters from the affected outlets were still working on White House grounds later Friday.
CNN said it stood behind its White House reporting and argued that journalists have a constitutional right to report without government interference. Politico also said it would continue covering the White House and would defend its First Amendment rights. MS NOW declined to comment on Trump’s post, according to reports.
The move could trigger a legal challenge over press access and the First Amendment. Trump previously faced a court challenge after the White House revoked the press credentials of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta during his first term. A federal judge ordered Acosta’s credentials restored.
The latest action also follows Trump’s continuing dispute with The Associated Press. In 2025, the White House restricted AP access after the news agency continued using “Gulf of Mexico” rather than Trump’s preferred “Gulf of America.” A federal judge later ordered officials to restore AP access to the Oval Office, Air Force One and other events open to White House reporters, although litigation over the restrictions continued.
Trump has also pursued legal disputes with major media organisations. In 2025, ABC News agreed to a $15 million settlement in a defamation case, while Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement involving Trump’s lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
The latest announcement adds another dispute to Trump’s long-running clashes with news organisations and leaves open questions about how any broader restrictions on White House press access would be implemented.
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