President Donald Trump said on Sept. 18 that he is “banning” CNN from the White House, posting that the network and two other outlets will be barred after what he called “fake news,” according to multiple news reports and his social post.
Trump’s announcement named CNN, MS NOW and Politico and described their coverage as “fiction and lies,” a claim reported by Reuters and ABC News and shown in a video clip published by PBS. The statement said the ban was “effective immediately,” though the president announced it on social media rather than via a formal White House press release, per NBC News and Reuters.
Outlets pushed back. NBC News reported that MS NOW said its journalists were denied access, and NPR noted that seeking to block CNN or other outlets could disrupt the traditional television pool system that provides regular White House coverage to major networks.
Coverage of the move has been widespread: CNN published its own account of the announcement and the implications for press access, while Reuters covered the possible legal and practical consequences for White House media operations. Readers following cnn news have seen rolling updates and analysis across major U.S. outlets.
Legal and press-freedom observers told NPR and the Washington Post that barring a single network raises First Amendment questions and could alter how the White House organizes its press pool; those outlets described the procedural and constitutional concerns reporters and lawyers raised after Trump’s post.
The announcement follows repeated public attacks by Trump on media outlets he says publish “fake news,” and it comes amid ongoing disputes between the president and several organizations that cover the administration closely. Readers interested in related coverage can see a recent roundup and other developments linked below.
Internal links: Trump latest: CNN roundup, Trump news: what to know, Kaitlan Collins attacked by Trump
Sources
- Reuters — reported Trump’s announcement naming CNN, MS NOW and Politico and described the possible effects on White House media access.
- CNN — published the network’s account of the president’s claim and its implications for press access.
- NBC News — reported that MS NOW said its journalists were denied access and covered outlet responses.
- NPR — explained how barring networks could upend the traditional television pool and raised First Amendment questions.
- ABC News — noted the president’s social post and that the ban was announced on social media rather than a formal statement.
- PBS NewsHour — published video of Trump’s announcement and reported his characterization of the outlets’ coverage as “fake news.”
