Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico From the White House
Event Reviewed Automatically reviewed for factual accuracy, tone, and neutrality. Review does not check claims against cited sources. Last reviewed 18 October 2026.President Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House over their coverage, and their reporters were denied entry the next day. A federal judge blocked the ban and in October issued a preliminary injunction keeping their access in place while the case proceeds.
Three outlets lose White House access; court blocks the ban pending litigation.
On 18 September 2026, President Donald Trump announced on social media that he was barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, citing what he called unfavorable coverage and “fake news,” and said more such bans could follow. Reporters from all three outlets were denied entry to the White House grounds the next day. The ban covered the outlets’ hard passes — credentials that let screened journalists enter the press area without advance permission — held by 78 reporters, according to the outlets’ court filings. CNN was also removed from a scheduled pool assignment; the television pool responded that it would provide no network pool coverage of the president’s events.
The three organizations sued jointly in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleging violations of the First Amendment and of Fifth Amendment due process. On 24 September U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly temporarily lifted the ban. In an order issued late on 13 October he granted a preliminary injunction preserving the outlets’ access while the case proceeds, writing that “the ban threatens to cut off all Plaintiffs’ access to the White House press area.” The administration appealed.
Sources
- 01.
Kellman, L. (2026). What is the White House pool? These days, it's a battleground between Trump and free press rights. Source for the 18 September 2026 announcement, Trump's stated reason (what he called unfavorable coverage and 'fake news'), reporters from all three outlets being denied entry to the grounds the next day, and the outlets' suit alleging First and Fifth Amendment violations.
- 02.
Associated Press (via MPR News). What is the White House pool? These days, it's a battleground between Trump and free press rights. (2026). Earlier, 22 September version of the same wire report. Source for CNN's exclusion from a pool assignment and the television pool's response that it would provide no network pool coverage of the president's events.
- 03.
McCudden, K. (2026). It's more than a media ban. It's a playbook. Source for Judge Timothy J. Kelly's 24 September 2026 order temporarily lifting the ban and for the outlets' 28 September motion for a preliminary injunction.
- 04.
PBS NewsHour. Judge extends order blocking Trump from banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from White House. (2026). Source for the preliminary injunction preserving the status quo while the case is pending, the hard-pass credentials it covers, the 78 reporters affected across the three organizations, and the quoted line from Kelly's written ruling.
- 05.
NBC News. Federal judge issues longer-term decision blocking Trump's White House media ban. (2026). Source for the injunction being issued late on Tuesday 13 October (reported 14 October) by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, D.C., the 78 hard-pass holders named in the outlets' filings, and the administration's appeal.
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