The United States President Donald Trump has announced a ban on major news platforms CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them of peddling fake news. In an X post, Trump said that he was proud to announce a ban on the news platforms that, according to him, reported “fiction” and “lies” in their coverage of the White House and the US government.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an all-time record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’ Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant reporting FAKE NEWS,” Trump wrote in the post.
“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” he added.
I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2026
Trump referred to it as a “very simple ban” later. He further stated that the ban would only apply to the Oval Office to avoid any legal or constitutional complications. He also admitted that his announcement could be challenged in court, highlighting, “I think it’s good to point it out, whether it survives or doesn’t.”
According to Trump, no particular article or segment was the reason for the ban, saying that “it’s really just cumulative stories over the last two years. You get sick of it.” He also hinted that other similar platforms might be subjected to the same decision in the future. He remarked, “Others to come in terms of fake news? Well, you know, the New York Times is fake news, the Washington Post is fake news.” He also added, “I got more bans going than any human being.”
However, CNN claimed that it was an “illegal assault” on the country’s press freedoms. “Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. 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. 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,” the media house declared.
MSNOW likewise reported that their journalists were also turned away from the White House, stating that the media outlet “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy. The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars.”
Politico has responded in a similar manner. “Politico will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them,” a spokesperson for the media company expressed while talking to The Hill. It was also alleged that “the claims that Politico received government subsidies are false and have been thoroughly debunked.”
This is not the first time that Trump has taken such an action. Last year in February, Trump excluded The Associated Press journalists from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events after the news media platform refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as “Gulf of America.”
In 2018, the White House cancelled the press pass of then CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after a heated exchange with Trump during a news conference. The news channel challenged the order in court, after which the correspondent’s credentials were restored permanently.
