# Trump bans three news outlets from White House

> President Trump bars CNN, Politico, and MSNBC from White House access, citing negative coverage and setting up a potential First Amendment legal battle.
- Title: Trump bans three news outlets from White House · TIME
- Summary: President Trump bars CNN, Politico, and MSNBC from White House access, citing negative coverage and setting up a potential First Amendment legal battle…
- Keywords: donald trump, cnn, politico, msnbc, white house, press ban, first amendment, freedom of press, media access, fake news, presidential power, Trump
- Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/09/18/trump-bans-3-news-organizations-from-white-house
- Author: Nik Popli
- Published: 2026-09-18T20:26:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, cnn, politico, msnbc, white house, press ban, first amendment, freedom of press, media access, fake news, presidential power
## Trump bans three outlets immediately
On September 18, Trump announced CNN, Politico, and MSNBC were banned from the White House effective immediately, accusing them of publishing fake news.

> Effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW... and Politico... from the White House
## Trump cites cumulative negative coverage
Trump said there were no specific stories prompting the ban, but rather years of what he called negative reporting designed to diminish Republicans.

> It's really just cumulative stories over the last few years, you get sick of it
## Ban enforced with credential confiscation
Though CNN's team initially remained at the White House on announcement day, journalists from all three outlets were denied entry the next day and had their press credentials confiscated.
## Outlets vow to continue coverage
CNN and the other banned outlets condemned the action and said they would keep covering the Administration, with CNN citing constitutional protections for press freedom.

> We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government.
## History of Trump media access battles
Trump previously barred Associated Press reporters from the Oval Office over their refusal to adopt his preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico, a case still ongoing in court.
## First Amendment challenge likely coming
The ban sets up another potential legal battle over presidential power and press freedom, similar to Trump's first term when he revoked CNN's Jim Acosta's credentials, a decision later overturned in court.
## Broader pattern of media litigation
Since returning to office, Trump has sued The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BBC over coverage he objected to, with cases against the Times and Journal dismissed.
## Key takeaway

Trump is using White House access as a weapon against news organizations he views as hostile, a tactic that has repeatedly faced legal challenges.