Trump bans CNN, 2 other media outlets from White House

United States President Donald Trump has banned CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the White House over what he described as unfavourable coverage, and threatened that more such prohibitions of media outlets could follow.

Trump announced the ban on Truth Social on Friday, September 18, 2026.

He wrote: “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’

“Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!

“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. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Later in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters: “I think that somebody has a right to keep them away if they’re going to write false stories all the time.”

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The development follows Trump’s decision in February 2025 to keep Associated Press journalists out of the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events too small for a full press corps, in retaliation for the news outlet’s decision not to follow his lead in changing the Gulf of Mexico’s name.

The AP filed suit and the case is ongoing.

Trump has long bristled at news coverage he sees as unfavourable to him and has a history of filing lawsuits against news organisations and lashing out at individual reporters in person or over social media.

Since returning to office, Trump has pursued legal action against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, and other news outlets.

It is extremely rare for United States presidents to bar news outlets from the White House altogether, although Trump banned a CNN reporter in his first term and Richard Nixon put restrictions on the Washington Post for its reporting on the Watergate scandal.