CNN, MS NOW and Politico to file lawsuit against Trump's White House ban

September 21, 2026

President Trump has banned CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from White House access, prompting the three news organizations to file a joint lawsuit defending their First Amendment rights. The ban, announced Friday and implemented Saturday, came with Trump's accusation that these outlets publish false stories about his administration, though he cited no specific examples. This action follows a February incident where Associated Press faced similar restrictions over its use of "Gulf of Mexico" rather than Trump's preferred "Gulf of America," which also resulted in ongoing litigation.

Who is affected

CNN, Politico, and MS NOW (banned news organizations)
Journalists and reporters from these three organizations who lost White House credentials
The White House press pool system
The White House Correspondents' Association
Associated Press (facing separate ongoing restrictions)
Other news outlets potentially targeted (New York Times, Washington Post mentioned as possible future targets)
The general public's access to independent White House journalism

What action is being taken

CNN, Politico, and MS NOW reporters are being denied access to the White House building
The three organizations are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration
The White House press pool slot originally assigned to CNN for the UN General Assembly coverage remains vacant
Real America's Voice is listed as "secondary" crew on Trump's UN trip
Associated Press's lawsuit regarding their earlier restrictions remains ongoing
The Trump administration's lawsuit against the BBC is ongoing

Why it matters

This situation threatens fundamental press freedom principles protected by the First Amendment, which prevents government discrimination against media based on their coverage content. The government's ability to selectively ban news organizations from White House access based on editorial content creates a dangerous precedent where the administration can punish critical journalism and control the narrative by restricting access to information. This undermines the public's right to independent journalism and allows the government to effectively decide what gets reported by denying access to outlets whose coverage it dislikes, fundamentally threatening the role of a free press as a check on government power.

What's next

CNN, Politico, and MS NOW will pursue their lawsuit to protect First Amendment rights
Trump indicated there "may be others to join them," suggesting potential additional media bans
The Associated Press case regarding their earlier access restrictions continues in the courts

Read full article from source: BBC