FIRE statement on Trump banning news outlets from the White House

On September 18, 2026, President Trump announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House due to their coverage. 

The following statement can be attributed to Aaron Terr, FIRE’s director of public advocacy:

When the White House opens its doors to the press, it must comply with the First Amendment. The president is as free as any other person to criticize media coverage. But he can’t ban outlets from the White House just because he doesn’t like their reporting or commentary. Press credentials aren’t a reward for loyalty to the government. A free, even adversarial, press is a sign of our country’s strength. The public deserves to hear about its government from independent voices, not just its leader’s loyalists and allies.