CNN responded to President Trump banning the outlet from the White House, saying it would be an “illegal assault” on a “fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
“CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting. We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hinderance or interference from the government,” CNN said in a statement.
“Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right,” it added.
CNN Statement on White House access: pic.twitter.com/X0rMWFfueA
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) September 18, 2026
Trump also said he would bar MS NOW and POLITICO from the White House.
BREAKING: President Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House
The Hill has more:
Politico, an outlet that became the target of right-wing scorn during Elon Musk’s efforts to trim government spending, was also included in what Trump said was a soon-to-be-banned list.
ADVERTISEMENTMusk took issue with Politico “Pro” subscriptions during DOGE efforts he led, a service that many government employees and departments subscribe to for information and reporting on the inner workings of the federal government.
Trump, in his Truth Social post, suggested Politico was reporting “fake news” about him while benefiting from what he characterized as government subsidies.
“POLITICO will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones,” the outlet said in a statement to The Hill on Friday. “We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them,” a spokesperson for the outlet said.
Of the accusations the outlet was taking money from the federal government, the outlet said, “the claims that POLITICO received government subsidies are false and have been thoroughly debunked.”
MS NOW declined to comment on the president’s threat, but its hosts and personalities have frequently been critical of Trump and his policies for years.
The progressive cable channel, formerly known as MSNBC, is home to the morning political talk program “Morning Joe,” which the president has attacked on numerous occasions during his years in office, and former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki.
"I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them 'alive.' Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" Trump said on Friday.
"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. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow," he added.
Trump suggested The New York Times and The Washington Post may be next.
Watch below:
"They're disgusting" -- Trump threatens that the New York Times and Washington Post might be banned from the White House next pic.twitter.com/hSVSHwbHN3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 18, 2026
NBC News shared further:
Trump, responding to a reporter in the Oval Office shortly after announcing the ban, said the new policy was the result of “cumulative stories over the last few years.” He did not specify a particular news report, and a White House spokesperson referred NBC News to the president’s spoken comments.
The move is the latest in Trump’s ongoing efforts to punish news organizations and broadcasters for their coverage. Shortly after taking office, Trump banned The Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One and some events after it declined to acknowledge his call to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
The AP filed suit, and the case is ongoing.
Trump has also taken legal action against outlets including the BBC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal after they published unfavorable reports. The suits against the Times and the Journal were subsequently dismissed. The BBC has filed to get Trump’s suit against it tossed.
Democrats denounced Friday’s move.
“This is yet another attack on the First Amendment from a president who knows he and his party of bootlickers are deeply unpopular,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wrote on X. “Donald Trump can’t hide from his failing record, so he’s banning journalists he doesn’t like to keep you from hearing about it.”
