United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the media organisations of publishing what he described as “fake news.”
Trump made the announcement on Friday through a social media post, while suggesting that additional media organisations could also face similar restrictions.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He added, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
The announcement could trigger legal and constitutional challenges, given the First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the United States.
CNN, MS NOW, Politico and the National Press Club had not immediately issued responses to the announcement.
However, CNN reporter Brian Stelter said on air that the network’s White House team continued working as usual on Friday.
Trump has a long history of criticism of journalists and media organisations, with his attacks on news outlets intensifying during his second term in office.
He has also repeatedly criticised broadcasters over news and comedy programmes that he believes are unfavourable to him or his administration, and has called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the licences of some broadcast stations.
The Trump administration has previously faced legal disputes over press access. In 2019, the White House suspended the press credentials of Playboy correspondent Brian Karem following a verbal confrontation involving then-presidential aide Sebastian Gorka. A judge later ordered the administration to restore Karem’s credentials.
Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has continued to publicly criticise reporters and major US television networks.
In 2025, his administration also barred the Associated Press from the regular pool of reporters covering presidential movements after the news agency declined to adopt Trump’s preferred name, “Gulf of America,” for the Gulf of Mexico.
Reacting to the latest development, Democratic US Representative Frank Pallone, who leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, described the move as censorship.
Pallone said Trump’s decision to restrict media access would not change public perceptions of his administration.
The dispute comes amid an ongoing debate in the United States over presidential authority, press access and constitutional protections for journalists covering the White House.
