U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing the networks of publishing “fake news.” In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump cited “constant fake news” as the reason for the ban, warning that other media outlets would soon face similar restrictions.
While warning that other media organizations will follow, Trump has not yet specified which outlets might face future White House bans. He emphasized that media outlets based in the U.S. “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.” Representatives for MS NOW and Politico did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Following the statement banning multiple media outlets, Trump made a healthcare announcement from the Oval Office later that afternoon. Taking questions from the gathered press, he emphasized that the ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House complex was enacted in retaliation for “cumulative stories” pushed by the three organizations.
In a statement addressing the restriction, CNN expressed solidarity with its White House press team, asserting that the network has a constitutional right to report from the complex without administrative interference. The network warned that if the ban is enforced, “it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
No immediate effort has been made to remove reporters associated with the banned outlets from the White House complex. According to sources on the ground, CNN and MS NOW journalists were seen working in the outdoor press pool area while Trump delivered his televised remarks from the Oval Office.
