WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday, September 18, that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would no longer be permitted access to the White House, accusing the three outlets of consistently disseminating “fake news.”
The decision represents a significant escalation in the president’s ongoing friction with news organizations whose reporting he finds critical. The declaration immediately raised constitutional and free press concerns, though there was no initial sign that security personnel had begun enforcing the restriction.
Trump disclosed the policy on his social media platform, declaring an immediate revocation of the outlets’ credentials.
“I am banning” CNN, MS NOW and Politico “from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” he posted.
Elaborating on the statement during a subsequent gathering in the Oval Office, Trump pointed to what he characterized as persistently biased and inaccurate journalism from the three outlets.
“Because they’re fake news,” he said. “You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are no good. When you look at MS NOW … , it’s fake news.”
“And when you look at Politico … the stories they wrote are fake. So there’s a lot of news and there may be others to join them, and maybe they can get better,” Trump added. “But our country has to have honest news.”
The administration did not immediately provide administrative details regarding how press access would be revoked or regulated. Reporters representing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were still present inside the White House campus late Friday afternoon, with no immediate interference reported.
Responding to the announcement, CNN defended the integrity of its newsroom and cautioned that carrying out the directive would violate federal law.
“We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” CNN stated via social media. “Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
Politico similarly reaffirmed its commitment to covering the administration while pledging to challenge any effort to restrict press freedoms.
“We will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them,” Politico said in a statement.
Representatives for MS NOW did not immediately provide comment regarding the president’s declaration.