Donald Trump has announced a White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, prompting criticism and concerns about US press freedom.
US President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will be barred from the White House, accusing the three news organisations of deliberately publishing negative and misleading coverage of his administration.
Trump announced the decision on September 18 through his Truth Social platform. He described the outlets as purveyors of “fake news” and suggested that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
The announcement represents another escalation in Trump’s long-running confrontation with sections of the American press.
Scope of White House Ban Remains Unclear
Trump did not explain whether the measure would apply to all journalists employed by the three organisations or only to reporters assigned to the White House.
The administration also provided no immediate information about how the restriction would affect press credentials, access to briefings, presidential events or participation in the rotating White House press pool.
Reporters representing the affected organisations were reportedly still present on White House grounds several hours after the announcement, indicating that the measure had not been fully implemented at that stage, according to the Associated Press.
MS NOW is the news network previously known as MSNBC.
News Organisations Raise Press-Freedom Concerns
CNN rejected the decision and argued that preventing journalists from accessing the White House because of their reporting would violate constitutional protections for a free press.
Media organisations and press-freedom advocates also warned that excluding particular outlets based on their editorial coverage could amount to viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment.
The National Press Club and the Freedom of the Press Foundation were among the organisations that criticised the announcement. Legal challenges are expected if the administration formally removes credentials or blocks reporters from areas generally open to accredited media.
Courts have previously held that government officials cannot arbitrarily withdraw White House press access without appropriate procedures. However, the legal outcome would depend on the exact form and enforcement of the latest restrictions.
Trump has repeatedly accused major news organisations of treating him unfairly. His administration has also clashed with the Associated Press, The New York Times and other outlets over access, terminology and critical reporting.
Reuters reported that the proposed ban is likely to face legal scrutiny because Trump explicitly linked it to negative coverage. Until formal access rules are issued, the practical reach of the announcement remains uncertain.
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