Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House Grounds; Networks Boycott Pool Coverage and Outlets Sue
President Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House grounds, accusing the outlets of reporting "FAKE NEWS" and "FICTION and LIES." The three outlets filed a joint lawsuit on Monday against the administration, alleging violations of the First Amendment and due process. The remaining television pool networks — ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC — declined to take CNN's place in pool coverage, issuing a joint statement warning against government restriction of news organizations.
President Trump announced the ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds via TRUTH Social on Friday, saying the outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States." The three outlets responded Monday by filing a lawsuit seeking an injunction to halt the ban and immediately restore their White House credentials.
The practical effect of the boycott was visible almost immediately. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new White House helipad on Monday, Trump's first public remarks since the television pool announced its boycott were recorded only by a secondary broadcaster, and the audio was overwhelmed by the sound of an idling Marine One, leaving his words inaudible. By the end of the day, however, Trump appeared live on CNN via cameras that met him in New York, outside the scope of the boycott agreement, during a visit to Gracie Mansion with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The boycott extended beyond the television pool. The New York Times, NPR, and The Washington Post announced they would suspend use of pool photographs and audio until the ban was lifted, according to NPR. The White House Correspondents' Association, led by President Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News, released a statement calling the access revocations a violation of the First Amendment and warning that "a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future."