US President Donald Trump has announced the immediate exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, escalating his long-running confrontation with sections of the American media.
Trump made the announcement Friday in a lengthy post on Truth Social, accusing the three outlets of repeatedly reporting what he described as “fiction or lies” about his administration. He did not identify specific reports or stories that prompted the decision.
The exact scope of the announced ban remains unclear, including whether journalists from the affected organizations will be prevented from entering the White House complex or excluded from the White House press pool.
Despite Trump’s announcement, reporters from CNN and Politico were still present on the White House grounds shortly afterward. A CNN crew was also travelling with Vice-President JD Vance to and from an event in Iowa.
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Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the decision was the result of what he described as a cumulative pattern of coverage over several years.
“There’s really just cumulative stories over the last few years,” Trump said. “You get sick of it.”
The president suggested that additional media organizations could face similar action but did not identify them.
Trump also acknowledged that the move could face legal challenges, saying he believed courts should not permit what he characterized as “fake news” to be published repeatedly.
The announcement is likely to trigger renewed debate over press freedom and the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press in the United States.
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said that excluding news organizations from the White House press pool because of their viewpoints would raise constitutional concerns.
The latest dispute follows several confrontations between the Trump administration and the White House press corps since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
In February 2025, the White House announced that it would take greater control over the press pool, ending the longstanding arrangement in which the White House Correspondents’ Association managed access.
The administration also restricted access for Associated Press journalists after the news organization continued using the term “Gulf of Mexico” rather than the administration’s preferred “Gulf of America.” The Associated Press subsequently filed a lawsuit, which remains ongoing.
Trump has frequently criticized reporters during appearances in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One, often accusing news organizations of publishing “fake news.”
During his first presidential term, Trump temporarily revoked the White House credentials of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta. CNN challenged the decision in court, after which Acosta’s credentials were restored.
Trump has also pursued legal action involving several major media organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the BBC.
The White House has not yet provided further details on how the newly announced restrictions against CNN, MS NOW and Politico will be implemented.
