Trump Bans News Outlets From White House and Air Force One

President Donald J. Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House on September 18, 2026, accusing the outlets of reporting "FAKE NEWS" to diminish Republicans. The administration later justified the restrictions on national security grounds, though the president stated he was "sick and tired" of 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 unconstitutional and ordering the restoration of press credentials. Despite this, the White House continued to restrict access, barring CNN from its scheduled television pool assignment on an Air Force One flight to Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 27. The administration replaced CNN with conservative outlets Lindell TV and Real America’s Voice.

In solidarity with CNN, five major broadcasters—ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC—suspended pooled television coverage of presidential events, including meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The networks resumed coverage on September 28 after an ad hoc agreement to either fill or leave CNN's rotation slots empty.

To bypass traditional media, the president launched "Trump TV" on YouTube, though the channel struggled with low viewership. On September 28, the banned outlets asked the federal court to extend their temporary reprieve beyond October 8 to ensure full access and pool assignments while the legal challenge continues.