President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on three major news outlets from the White House, citing allegations of "fake news" and reporting "fiction and lies."
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ManyPress Editorial
Key facts
- •President Trump announced the ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico via a Truth Social post on Friday, September 18, 2026.
- •The President alleged that Politico received an $8 million government subscription payment under the Biden administration.
- •Trump stated that the ban is effective immediately and warned that other media outlets may face similar actions.
- •The Associated Press remains involved in an ongoing federal court challenge following its own ban from the White House in February 2025.
- •The potential exclusion of these networks could disrupt the standard five-network television pool that tracks the President's movements.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday, September 18, 2026, that he is banning CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump stated the ban is effective immediately, accusing the outlets of consistently reporting "fiction and lies." He indicated that additional media organizations could face similar restrictions in the coming days.
Basis for the White House Ban
In his announcement, President Trump characterized the three outlets as "fake news" and claimed they should not be permitted to report on the President, his administration, or the United States while allegedly spreading falsehoods. Regarding Politico, Trump specifically alleged that the outlet received an $8 million subscription payment from the U.S. government under the previous administration, which he described as corruption. He did not provide specific examples of the coverage that prompted the ban.
Impact on Press Operations
The potential exclusion of these outlets from the White House press pool could significantly disrupt the five-network television pool that travels with the President. While the President declared the ban effective immediately, CNN reported that its staff continued to work at the White House normally for some time following the announcement. The National Press Club and the affected outlets did not immediately provide comments on the development.
Precedent and Legal Context
This action follows a previous move by the administration in February 2025 to ban the Associated Press (AP) from the White House. The AP challenged that decision in federal court, and the case remains ongoing, though the outlet was removed from the press pool. Legal experts and observers suggest that the latest ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico could face similar constitutional challenges regarding First Amendment protections for a free press.
Timeline
- February 2025The Trump administration banned the Associated Press from the White House, leading to an ongoing federal court challenge.
- September 17, 2026President Trump spoke during a dinner at the White House.
- September 18, 2026President Trump announced the immediate ban of CNN, MS Now, and Politico via Truth Social.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Hindustan Times World, ABC Australia, South China Morning Post, The Hindu.
