White House Press Ban
President Trump bans CNN and Politico from the White House over fake news allegations.
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Key Points
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CNN said the ban would not deter it from its watchdog role, stating: “We will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account.”
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MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said she passed through two security gates before an officer told her that her badge had been disabled and asked her to surrender it; the officer said the decision was “above him.”
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Trump specifically alleged that Politico benefited from an “illegal and ridiculous $8 million dollar subscription” paid by the federal government under President Joe Biden, a claim he cited as part of his justification for the ban.
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The denied access occurred on a Saturday while Trump was at Camp David; CNN and MS NOW commonly maintain weekend White House coverage when the president is in Washington or at the nearby retreat, whereas Politico reporters typically are not present at the White House on Saturdays.
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Trump warned that the restrictions could expand, writing: “Other fake news media outlets to follow,” signaling that CNN, MS NOW and Politico might not be the only organizations targeted.
President Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House on Friday, accusing the outlets of publishing "fake news." PBS News reported that the ban took effect Saturday morning when Secret Service officers deactivated press badges and turned away reporters, including MS NOW's Akayla Gardner and CNN's Betsy Klein. Trump warned that "other fake news media outlets to follow," signaling potential expansion of the restrictions.
The news organizations vowed to defend their First Amendment rights and continue reporting from outside the White House gates. Washington Post noted that Trump specifically accused Politico of benefiting from an "illegal and ridiculous $8 million dollar subscription" paid by the federal government under President Biden. Legal experts raised concerns about constitutional violations, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the decision, alleging the outlets had endangered service members with false reports.
How the Ban Unfolded on Saturday Morning
Secret Service officers began enforcing the ban at White House gates on Saturday while Trump was at Camp David. PBS News and CBS News reported that reporters arriving for weekend coverage had their hard press badges deactivated or confiscated. MS NOW's Akayla Gardner passed through two security gates before an officer told her that her badge was disabled and asked her to surrender it, noting the decision was "above him."
LA Times noted that weekend coverage was common for CNN and MS NOW when the president was at Camp David, a nearby retreat. Politico reporters typically did not work weekends at the White House. The move created immediate confusion and prompted outlets to shift journalists to sidewalk locations outside the White House gates while preparing legal filings.
Outlets Pledge Legal Action and Continued Coverage
CNN declared it "will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account," PBS News reported. MS NOW stated: "The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars." Jonathan Greenberger, Politico's editor-in-chief, told staff the outlet would "vigorously defend our First Amendment rights."
The White House Correspondents' Association president, Jacqui Heinrich, demanded the administration "immediately restore" credentialed access for the affected outlets. Truthout and Washington Post reported that press freedom advocates cited legal precedent from *Sherrill v. Knight* (1977) and the 2018 ruling restoring CNN reporter Jim Acosta's badge, which established due process requirements for revoking press credentials.
Hegseth Backs Ban, Citing Alleged Threats to Military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported the White House press restrictions, Washington Post reported. Hegseth alleged that the banned outlets had published false reports and leaked classified information that endangered service members. His stance mirrors restrictions he previously imposed at the Pentagon, where he required defense journalists to sign pledges against gathering unauthorized information.
In October, press freedom advocates sharply criticized Hegseth's Pentagon restrictions, leading to a massive walkout by the defense press corps, Washington Post noted. Critics argued that blocking outlets from the White House represented a dangerous precedent that could escalate government efforts to control news coverage of national security matters.
Trump Signs Russia Sanctions Law With 100% Tariff Threat
Separately, Trump signed a Russia sanctions law that authorizes potential tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil or gas, PBS News reported. The measure could directly impact trade with major purchasers like India. The administration may waive the tariffs, suggesting they could serve as negotiating leverage rather than immediate policy.
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