Trump Announces White House Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will be barred from the White House, escalating his ongoing dispute with several major news organizations.

Trump made the announcement Friday, September 18, 2026, in a post on Truth Social. He accused the three outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as false or inaccurate reports about his administration, but did not identify specific stories to support the allegations.

Later, Trump described the measure as a simple ban but provided few details about how it would be implemented. Reports indicated that journalists working for the targeted organizations were still present at the White House after the announcement, leaving the exact scope and enforcement of the decision uncertain.

CNN responded by saying it stood behind its White House reporting team and argued that journalists have a constitutional right to report without government interference. Politico also said it would continue covering the administration and defend its First Amendment rights.

The announcement has raised questions about press access and constitutional protections. Legal disputes could follow if the administration moves to formally restrict the outlets’ access to White House facilities or press activities. Previous court cases involving White House press access have addressed due-process and First Amendment concerns.

Trump also indicated that additional media organizations could face similar restrictions, making the issue a developing dispute between the administration and the news media.