Trump Bans News Outlets from White House and Air Force One

President Donald J. Trump banned reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House on September 18, 2026, accusing the outlets of reporting "FAKE NEWS" and writing lies to "diminish the Republicans." The administration later claimed the bans were necessary for national security, though the president's social media posts cited negative coverage. In response, the three organizations filed a First Amendment lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order on September 24, ruling the ban likely violated constitutional due process rights because the government failed to provide notice or a hearing. While the order restored grounds access, the White House continued to restrict specific duties. On September 26, the administration barred CNN from flying on Air Force One for a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, replacing the network with conservative outlets Lindell TV and Real America's Voice.

This escalation triggered a boycott by the five-network television pool—ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC—which suspended coverage of presidential events, including meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The networks resumed operations on September 28 after the White House allowed CNN to film at the National Archives, though they agreed to leave CNN's future rotation slots empty if no substitute is found. To bypass traditional media, Trump launched "Trump TV" on YouTube, which struggled with low viewership.

On September 28, the news organizations asked Judge Kelly for a preliminary injunction to indefinitely block the ban, arguing that the Air Force One exclusion proves the administration will reinstitute restrictions once the current temporary reprieve expires on October 8.