Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House in Latest Media Clash
Synopsis
Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, citing their coverage. The announcement follows earlier disputes over press access and comes as the United States ranks 64th in RSF's latest global press freedom index.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, in another dispute between him and a number of news organizations over access to the presidential complex.
According to his post on Truth Social, he accused the three media outlets of consistently providing fake news. At the same time, Trump tied his bans to his criticism of the outlets’ coverage of his administration, noting that others would follow.
The White House did not immediately comment on the reports, other than Trump’s comments. It was not clear what restrictions, if any, would be imposed on the three news organizations, or when. Meanwhile, journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico continued to work at the White House.
White house press access dispute
This comes after a series of standoffs over access to the president. The White House restricted the Associated Press in 2025 after it refused to use the administration’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, Trump has repeatedly criticized broadcast and news outlets that cover him, threatening to restrict their access to the White House. He said on September 18 that he planned to impose similar restrictions on other media outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
CNN told the Associated Press that it supports its White House staff and coverage. Politico said it would continue to cover the administration and defend its First Amendment rights, while MS NOW did not respond to a request for comment.
US press freedom ranking
This dispute occurs against the backdrop of the United States falling to 64th in the world in terms of press freedom, according to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders. The index ranked the US 2026 as 57th in the world. Norway was first in the ranking, followed by Germany in 14th place, Canada in 20th, the UK in 18th – and India in 140th.
In general, the entire US media space is in crisis, both in terms of funding and audience. According to the report, the parent company of CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery, recorded revenues of $37.3 billion in 2025, which is 5% lower than in the previous year in constant currency. In particular, the Global Linear Networks business segment (CNN) saw a decline in both distribution and advertising revenues.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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