President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing false coverage and warning that other news organizations will follow.
Trump made the announcement in a 3:04 p.m. ET Truth Social post. He accused the three outlets of reporting “fake news” and “fiction and lies” about him, his administration and the United States.
“Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” Trump wrote.
Scope remains unclear
Trump did not say whether the ban would revoke permanent credentials, block reporters from the White House grounds or briefing room, remove CNN from the rotating television pool, or restrict access only to smaller presidential events.
The White House had not released separate implementation guidance as of initial reports. CNN’s White House team continued working inside the complex after Trump published the post, Axios reported.
Asked during an Oval Office healthcare event why he acted when he did, Trump said, “It’s really just cumulative stories of the last two years. You get sick of it,” CBS News reported. He did not identify a specific report that triggered the decision.
Trump revives Politico payment claim
Trump also repeated his allegation that Politico received an “illegal” $8 million government subscription under former President Joe Biden. Federal spending records examined during a 2025 controversy showed that the roughly $8 million represented purchases of Politico products and subscriptions by multiple federal agencies in fiscal year 2024, rather than a single $8 million payment or subsidy. USAID accounted for $24,000 of that total in fiscal year 2024.
Politico said at the time that agencies purchased Politico Pro subscriptions through standard procurement and that it had not received government subsidies.
Press access precedents
Trump’s announcement comes amid unsettled litigation over White House media access. In February 2025, he restricted Associated Press reporters from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other limited-space events after the AP continued using “Gulf of Mexico.” A divided appellate panel later recognized broader White House discretion over such restricted spaces, while a 1977 ruling barred arbitrary denials of access to general press facilities and required due process for press-pass denials.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, CNN and Politico were among the news organizations that rejected a Pentagon credential policy in October 2025 that restricted access and threatened credentials over unauthorized material.
CNN, MS NOW, Politico and the White House Correspondents’ Association had not immediately issued public responses as of initial reports.
