CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump, seeking to restore their access to the White House and protect their First Amendment rights. The three media organisations announced the legal action on Monday, September 21, 2026. They claim that the White House revoked their journalists' credentials without notice or process, objecting to their reporting. The lawsuit aims to defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.
The dispute began on Friday, September 18, 2026, when Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would be banned from the White House grounds. He accused the outlets of reporting "fiction and lies" about him, his administration, and the United States. Reporters from the three outlets were turned away from the White House on Saturday, September 19, after the ban was enforced. Their press passes were confiscated when they attempted to enter the White House.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, September 21, follows Trump's decision to bar the three outlets from the White House. The media organisations argue that the government's actions threaten press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference. In a joint statement, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico said they were seeking to protect their First Amendment rights.
Trump defended the decision to ban the outlets, saying that media organisations should not be able to constantly write or report "fiction and lies" when covering the President of the United States. He claimed that he supported a free press but wanted what he called a "fair and honest press." At an Oval Office event, Trump said, "It's sick. I mean, there's something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stuff."
The White House ban was enforced on Saturday, September 19, when reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied entry to the complex. The Associated Press reported that the reporters' credentials were confiscated after they arrived at the White House. ABC News also reported that reporters from the three organisations had been denied access following Trump's announcement.
The legal action by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico places the dispute over media access before a federal court. The three news organisations are seeking to challenge the government's decision to exclude their journalists from the White House. The lawsuit comes as Trump has repeatedly criticised news organisations over their coverage of his administration and has threatened to extend restrictions to other media outlets.
The White House had also removed CNN from its scheduled Monday assignment as the television pool representative for the White House press corps. CNN had been scheduled to serve as the primary television pool network on Monday and accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the media.
Key points
- The lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico seeks to restore their access to the White House and protect their First Amendment rights.
- The Trump administration's decision to ban the three outlets from the White House was based on accusations of reporting "fiction and lies."
- The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the media over access and coverage.
