Donald Trump’s brash, sudden banishment of CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, saying he was fed up with what he described as negative coverage seems to have landed as a political thud.
Trump’s actions are a manifestation of ego, not good policy or even good politics. It neither will bring him more “positive” news coverage will not change any of the facts on the ground fueling questions about the gap between what Trump says and what he does,
Even his usual political allies are not rising to back this ban, which seems a clear violation of the First Amendment to be addressed by a lawsuit being filed in federal court on Monday, starting with a request for an immediate injunction.
However upset Trump finds himself at coverage that he sees as more “negative” than “positive,” he needs look no further than the mirror. Trump once again wants to shoot the messenger rather than to reconsider the messages he offers over war immigration, tariffs, environment and economics. Trump routinely either ignores relevant fact or skips over whatever might be problematic to present himself as the most rational among us, as well as the most powerful.
He is so filled with himself that he sees any question from why-do-we-need-it to how-will-it-work as “negative.”
Of late, Trump has been preening, publicly about his powers, telling outdoor enthusiasts and industry guests at a Rose Garden dinner that he is so powerful as president that he could ban them from fishing.
Few who have watched as Trump has neutered Congress and sought to steamroller the Supreme Court have taken issue with his “power,” even as it slides dangerously into areas better described as authoritarian or dictatorial. Instead, most criticism for Trump is about the outcome and effects of the decisions he makes (or not), whether about war, prices, taxes, global trade or the climate.
Legally Wrong, Democratically Wrong
While the legal question may hover over whether Trump has the power to ban certain reporters or news outlets at will – the lawsuit telling him to stop has plenty of precedent that declares such action illegal, the larger question is about how we respond to a slap in the face of democracy.
It is about what we all do in a non-legal way about showing Trump that he is wrong about the action and about its effect.
Even a successful lawsuit by the three news outlets involved will take time and money, while Trump makes his point about power. Yes, the rest of the press corps should and did stand down from oppress pools at routine press conferences, briefing and Oval Office sessions where Trump gets to yell at reporters about their questions and never answer anything. They overcame the mistaken belief that their “access” to the nation’s most powerful man is what matters rather than the dribble of news information that they air.
As one who has been involved in newsrooms for a lifetime, I can tell you what is overwhelming true but never reflected: News does not come from White House announcements, Indeed, as Dan Froomkin at Press Watch argues, almost always when a headline starts with “Trump Says,” it contains falsehoods about intent, funding, operation of whatever announcement he is making — the stuff that would make a change in policy operational or effective.
That is why we have a free press – to watch the government. This government shows daily that it hates having to answer questions that it believes makes actions look “negative.” It is impossible to know how Trump expects an incomplete military casualty list from the war in Iran to look “positive,” but as voters, we are astounded daily to hear that the government is shading the truth on how many military injuries or deaths are occurring.
Just as we saw at the Pentagon during that brief but painful equivalent barring of the door to news organizations, the courts will overturn this decision. But meanwhile, “news” continues to flow from those barred news organizations as reporters worked their military sources and followed leads despite the lack of official announcements.
The White House situation will prove much is the same.
Advice to News Colleagues
So, news organizations, print a box every day or show a chyron that lists links to what the White House sees as “news.” But add the warning that what follows undoubtedly is incomplete, answers no questions, lays out no effective solutions even to problems that Trump chooses to recognize. Add in that Trump sees his own statements as positive, and questions as inherently negative like why we need drones and snipers in a ceremonial arch that we never needed before.
Indeed, Trump has been doing so from the start, all likely illegally using Truth Social posts (are they even being kept as presidential records?) as the go-to source of information about what the White House is doing as well as saying.
On alternate days, or as a second box or chyron, present a list of topics that Trump does not regard as news that starts with worsening health statistics, economic measures, layoffs and court actions holding the administration to account.
Meanwhile, cover the real news aggressively. Get away from the stupid cameo shots in the Oval which tell us nothing except the momentary nearness of Natalie Harp or the state of Trump’s latest hair preparation.
Demand interview formats in which Trump must answer more longform questions about the full range of strategic, operational matters, personnel, legal issues than his one-lines allow.
Even this far down the line, do we really have a full sense of how far “authoritarian” powers will extend? How can a president who cannot understand what a contractor tells him about reflecting pool paint expect to understand the internal dangers of AI that even the industry leaders cannot — wouldn’t he and we like to hear him explain that? Don’t we have a right to know Trump’s real take on an election in which he is about to be plastered and the desperate measures he is bound to take? Opinions shortened to tv news blips don’t tell us anything — despite Trump’s interior measure of “positive” or “negative.”
Every story using “Trump Says” in a headline should have a second sentence that assesses whether it is remotely true.
Trump’s “positive” news is a negative for the rest of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trump’s Media Ban on CNN, MS Now and Politico
Why did Trump ban CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House?
Trump said the outlets produce what he considers “fake news” and unfairly negative coverage. Journalists from all three organizations subsequently had their White House access revoked.
Are CNN, MSNOW and Politico suing the Trump administration?
Yes. The three organizations filed a federal lawsuit on September 21, 2026, alleging that the administration violated their First Amendment rights and denied them due process under the Fifth Amendment. They are seeking an injunction restoring access.
Can a president ban a news organization from the White House?
The current lawsuit is testing that question in this context. Legal experts told Reuters that existing precedent generally prevents the government from discriminating against journalists based on their viewpoints once press access has been established, although the administration argues White House access is a privilege rather than a right.
How have other news organizations responded?
The television networks responsible for rotating presidential pool coverage suspended that coverage following the ban.
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