Trump excludes CNN, MSNOW and Politico from White House in First Amendment test
The US President has issued an immediate ban on three major news organisations, citing unfavourable coverage, in a move that legal observers describe as a direct challenge to constitutional press protections.
US President Donald Trump has excluded CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, a decision that takes effect immediately and marks a significant escalation in tensions between the executive branch and the press. The ban was announced on Friday, 18 September 2026, via the President’s social media platform, where he cited the outlets’ “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” as the primary justification for their removal.
The move is widely characterised as a direct test of the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections. By barring entire news organisations rather than specific individuals, the administration is setting a precedent that could reshape the institutional relationship between the White House and the media. Trump also indicated that further prohibitions of other media outlets could follow, suggesting a broader strategy of selective access.
This decision follows a pattern of escalating restrictions on press access. In February 2025, the President restricted Associated Press (AP) access to the Oval Office and Air Force One in retaliation for the outlet’s refusal to adopt his preferred name change for the Gulf of Mexico. The AP subsequently filed a lawsuit, which remains ongoing, providing a legal backdrop for the current dispute.
Historically, it is rare for US presidents to bar news outlets from the White House altogether. Precedents include Trump’s ban on a CNN reporter during his first term and Richard Nixon’s restrictions on the Washington Post during the Watergate scandal. However, the simultaneous exclusion of three major outlets represents a more comprehensive approach to managing media presence within the executive office.
The administration’s actions are part of a wider trend of legal and rhetorical challenges to news organisations. Since returning to office, Trump has pursued legal action against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC, among others. These moves reflect a sustained effort to contest what the President views as unfavourable coverage, though the specific scope of the current ban—whether it applies to all staff or specific reporters—has not been explicitly defined beyond the general exclusion.
As the AP lawsuit continues, the legal outcome of this new ban remains uncertain. No specific legal challenge has yet been detailed for the exclusion of CNN, MSNOW and Politico, leaving the constitutionality of the move to be adjudicated in the coming weeks.
