Trump administration bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from White House

Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House on Saturday, September 19, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was banning the three organizations because of coverage he characterized as “fake news.”

CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said their White House credentials had been deactivated. Gardner reported that she passed through two security checkpoints before being stopped when her badge failed to scan; an officer then confiscated it. Politico said White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her badge taken.

All three organizations defended their journalists and said they would challenge the restrictions. Politico said it would “vigorously defend” its First Amendment rights. CNN said it would continue its work holding government institutions accountable, while MS NOW argued that independent press access to the White House is essential to democratic accountability.

Trump announced the bans Friday, saying CNN, MS NOW and Politico had repeatedly produced what he considers false reporting. Asked why he was taking the action, Trump said the country needs “honest news” and suggested additional news organizations could eventually face similar treatment.

The dispute raises unresolved First Amendment questions about whether a presidential administration may restrict a news organization’s access based on the content or viewpoint of its reporting. The action follows other confrontations between the Trump administration and media organizations. The Associated Press, for example, has an ongoing lawsuit stemming from restrictions placed on its reporters after the AP declined to adopt Trump’s preferred “Gulf of America” terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.

The latest incident moves the dispute beyond a presidential announcement: White House access credentials for individual journalists were actually disabled or confiscated Saturday, making the restrictions operational rather than merely threatened.

Reported by Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press — updated September 19, 2026.