White House Bans CNN, MS Now, and Politico Reporters

White House Restricts Press Access

On Friday, the White House banned reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico. This action follows a prior threat made by the president on Truth Social. All three publications were turned away from the White House, as reported by NPR.

Internal White House Reaction

Politico reported that many senior White House staff were surprised by the directive to ban the publications. The decision was made while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was out of town. The president has previously been dissuaded from similar broad actions.

Pattern of Restricting Journalists

This is not the first time the administration has restricted journalist access. In 2025, AP reporters were barred from the White House and Air Force One, leading to ongoing litigation. Additionally, CNN reporter Jim Acosta's credentials were revoked during the president's first term, though CNN successfully challenged this in court.

Broader Impact on Journalism

The Department of Defense, now referred to as the Department of War, has also restricted reporters from the Pentagon. Secretary Pete Hegseth stated his support for the ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico, claiming these outlets had "self-deported" from the Pentagon. Journalism and broadcast organizations have also faced scrutiny from the FCC.

Legal Challenges Expected

The newly-banned organizations are expected to challenge this measure in court. While legal victories are anticipated, the actions are likely to cause distraction, cost, and disruption for the affected news outlets.