US President Donald Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are being barred from the White House, accusing the three news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.”
The president announced the move in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating it took effect immediately and warning that additional media outlets could face similar restrictions.
Trump Cites “Fiction and Lies” in Announcement
In his post, Trump argued that news organisations should not be permitted to publish what he characterised as false reporting while covering his administration.
“Media Outlets 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,” Trump wrote.
The announcement offered no specifics on which reports prompted the decision, nor did it clarify how the ban would be enforced. It remains unclear whether affected journalists would lose their hard passes, be excluded from White House briefings, or be removed from rotating press pools.
No Immediate Enforcement Visible
CNN reporters were still operating from the White House on Friday, and there was no immediate indication that the administration had begun enforcing the announced restrictions.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump defended the decision despite First Amendment protections for the press, asserting his authority to block organisations he considers “fake news” from entering the White House.
“There may be others to join them,” Trump said, signalling that further media organisations could be targeted.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
A Pattern of Clashes With the Press
The announcement marks the latest flashpoint in a series of confrontations between Trump and major US news organisations during his second term.
- Trump previously restricted access for Associated Press journalists after the agency continued using the term “Gulf of Mexico” rather than “Gulf of America.” The AP subsequently challenged those restrictions in court.
- During Trump’s first term, the White House revoked the press credentials of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta following a contentious exchange with the president at a 2018 news conference. CNN sued, and a federal judge temporarily ordered Acosta’s access restored before the White House ultimately reinstated his credentials.
Press Freedom Advocates Raise Alarm
The move has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom organisations, who argue it conflicts with constitutional protections.
Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said a ban based on unfavourable coverage would violate the First Amendment and amount to viewpoint discrimination.
The White House had not provided details on how or when the announced restrictions would take effect.
