Categories
CNN, MS NOW and Politico denied access to White House
CNN, MS NOW and Politico denied access to White House
Nik Martin with AP, dpa, Reuters09/19/2026September 19, 2026Three US news outlets said their journalists were blocked from entering the White House grounds, hours after President Donald Trump announced bans on several media outlets.
https://p.dw.com/p/5MtiBNews outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Saturday signaled they would take legal action after their journalists were denied access to the White House grounds earlier in the day.
It comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced he would ban the three news outlets from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a row over their coverage of his presidency.
Trump has accused the media of "fake news" over their often critical coverage of his second term in office.
Experts say the bans conflict with the United States Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and press freedom.
US President Trump bans media outlets from White House
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
What did CNN, MS NOW and Politico say?
CNN reported that its journalist Betsy Klein was denied access at the White House on Saturday morning and her press pass was seized.
"CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism,” a statement from the channel said.
“We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right."
Meanwhile, the left-leaning MS NOW, whose journalists were also turned away from the White House grounds on Saturday, said in a statement that it would challenge Trump's ban.
"The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” the network said. "MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
Politico's global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, meanwhile, wrote in an email to staff that reporter Cheyenne Haslett was denied entry to White House and her pass was confiscated by the Secret Service.
"We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights."
Jacqui Heinrich, President of the White House Correspondents' Association, warned that Trump's ban would "extend beyond these organizations," warning that it "could be applied to any outlet in the future."
Heinrich urged the Trump administration "to immediately restore our colleagues’ access."
What did Trump accuse US media outlets of?
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said the media outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the president of the United States."
"Other fake news media outlets to follow," he warned.
Trump said there was no one incident that prompted the ban, telling reporters in the Oval Office, "It's really just cumulative stories over the past few years."
"I don't have to let them into my, into the people's house," he added.
It was unclear whether the banned media outlets would also be blocked from flights aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One.
The US is just weeks away from the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump's Republican Party will struggle to defend narrow majorities in Congress.
With the president's approval ratings at 35%, near historic lows, Reuters/Ipsos polls also show Democrats ahead by around 7-9 points.
Trump's war with the press
During his second term, Trump has continued to round on journalists he deems critical to his administration — a tactic he employed when first elected in 2016.
Last year, he banned the Associated Press news agency from the usual pool of journalists that report on the presidency over its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
He has, however, given closer access to new, far-right media outlets seen as more sympathetic to his policies.
Trumps say comedian Jimmy Kimmel should be fired
Trump has even called on the US media regulator to remove the licenses of several broadcasters, whose comedy or news shows have mocked his policies and family.
The president has also filed several lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the BBC and Iowa's Des Moines Register, sometimes costing the media outlets millions in settlements.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.
AdvertisementPress FreedomUnited States of America