WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the media organisations of consistently publishing what he described as “fake news” about his administration.
Trump made the announcement on Friday, September 18, 2026, in a post on his Truth Social platform, warning that other media organisations could face similar sanctions.
According to the President, the affected outlets should not be allowed to “write or report fiction and lies” when covering the President, his administration or the United States.
Trump particularly criticised Politico over an $8 million subscription expenditure by the Biden administration, which he described as “illegal and ridiculous,” alleging that the payment was intended to keep the organisation financially afloat.
He further accused CNN and MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, of lacking credibility and criticised their coverage of his administration.
Speaking to journalists later at the White House, Trump maintained that the organisations were being targeted because of what he called false reporting, adding that other outlets could also be affected.
However, the announcement immediately triggered a debate over press freedom and presidential control of access to the White House.
CNN said it stood by its White House reporting, arguing that journalists have a constitutional right to cover the government without interference.
Politico also said it would continue reporting on the Trump administration and would defend its First Amendment rights.
The White House Correspondents’ Association similarly opposed the move, stressing that press access should not depend on whether a president approves of the coverage produced by a particular news organisation.
Legal experts and press-freedom organisations have also questioned the legality of excluding news organisations because of their editorial coverage, citing First Amendment protections.
The development represents another escalation in Trump’s long-running confrontation with major American media organisations, with the President warning that more outlets could be added to the list.
As of Friday afternoon, however, reports indicated that journalists from the affected organisations were still operating on White House grounds, leaving questions over how the proposed ban would be implemented.
