Trump bans three major news outlets from White House, cites 'fake news'

Donald Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House over what he called fake news. The move drew censorship charges and is likely to face scrutiny over press freedom protections.

In Short

• Trump said outlets should not report what he called fiction and lies
• He warned other news organisations could also face similar restrictions ahead
• The decision is expected to raise questions over First Amendment protections

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were being banned from the White House, accusing the three news outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as “FAKE NEWS”.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, saying the ban was effective immediately.

“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW ... and Politico ... from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump wrote.

Trump also took aim at MS NOW, which recently changed its name from MSNBC. He claimed the network made the change because of a “lack of viewership and credibility”, without providing evidence for the claim.

He also accused Politico of receiving an “illegal and ridiculous USD 8 million subscription” directly from the US government under former President Joe Biden. Trump described the payment as “corruption”.

Trump said news organisations should not be allowed to repeatedly publish what he characterised as false reports about his administration.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America,” he wrote.

He warned that the action could extend to other media organisations, adding, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”

The move is likely to face scrutiny over First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press. CNN’s White House team continued working from the White House after Trump’s announcement, with reporter Brian Stelter saying on air that the team was operating as it would on a normal Friday afternoon.

TRUMP'S LONG-RUNNING CLASH WITH MEDIA

Trump has a long history of confrontations with journalists and has intensified his criticism of the press since returning to the presidency in January 2025. He has repeatedly attacked broadcasters over programmes and coverage that criticise him or his administration and has called on the Federal Communications Commission to take action against some stations.

In 2019, the White House suspended the press credential of Playboy correspondent Brian Karem after he exchanged insults with then Trump aide Sebastian Gorka in the White House Rose Garden. A judge later ordered the White House to restore Karem’s credential.

Trump also barred the Associated Press from the usual White House pool covering his movements last year after the news agency did not adopt his preferred term “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico.

REACTION TO LATEST WHITE HOUSE BAN

US Representative Frank Pallone, the lead Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, described Trump's latest action as censorship, Reuters reported.

“If Trump thinks banning media outlets from the White House will make his presidency seem less like a failure, he's delusional,” Pallone said.

- Ends