Trump bans CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House press access

Trump threatened on Friday to ban CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House, and the three outlets were turned away this morning, NPR reports. The move marks a sharp escalation in the former president’s campaign against news organizations he says are “fake” and “anti‑American.” It is the first time a sitting president has been denied access to the West Wing by a former president’s order.

Trump has spent the past year attacking the press on his Truth Social feed and at rallies, calling the three outlets “enemies of the people.” His attacks intensified after the 2022 midterms, when several stories linked his campaign to disinformation about the 2020 election. The bans come as he pushes a narrative that the media is colluding with his political rivals. By targeting the three biggest cable news and political news brands, he hopes to pressure the White House to adopt stricter credential rules that would favor friendly outlets. The move also dovetails with his broader effort to reshape the Republican Party’s relationship with the press ahead of the 2024 election.

The White House has not yet issued a formal response, but officials said the decision to deny entry was “unprecedented” and contrary to longstanding policy that grants credentialed journalists access regardless of political leanings. Press freedom groups warned that the ban could set a dangerous precedent if a future administration follows Trump’s lead. Legal scholars note that the president cannot unilaterally revoke press credentials without congressional or judicial review. If Trump wins the 2024 election, he could try to codify new rules that limit coverage to outlets that meet his standards. For now, the three newsrooms are appealing the decision and preparing to cover the White House from outside the building, while watchdogs monitor how the dispute evolves.