White House bars CNN from Air Force One despite court order restoring press access
Trump administration blocks CNN from a Saturday trip to Tennessee as CNN, MS NOW and Politico seek an emergency hearing over repeated violations of a judge's order.
Part of a larger narrative
Trump White House Press Ban
- Pope Leo XIV backs press freedom as Trump's CNN, MS Now, Politico ban unravels
- Trump bars U.S. press from Xi meeting; Chinese state media gains access
- Trump bars CNN, Politico, MS NOW from White House after aide shows him critical clips
- Trump calls media a 'cancer' and national security threat; three outlets sue
- Obama calls Trump's White House press ban on CNN, MS Now, Politico 'unimaginable'
What to know
- A federal judge ruled the White House's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico likely unconstitutional and ordered access restored, but the outlets say the administration has repeatedly ignored the order.
- Reporters were denied access to Xi Jinping's state dinner arrival and CNN has now been dropped from the Air Force One press pool for a Saturday Tennessee trip.
- Lawyers for the three outlets are seeking another emergency court hearing, raising the prospect of contempt proceedings against the administration.
- Commentary online is dominated by accusations that the administration is defying the courts, with calls for judges to impose penalties or contempt charges.
The dispute Some want continued, aggressive press coverage and legal enforcement of access rights, while others argue the press should deny Trump any attention at all by walking away. · positions read across 203 posts and comments
The White House is defying a court order and officials should face contempt charges or arrest for it.
-
“This is a Constitutional crisis. Trump ignores judge's orders.”
wickit411.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
News outlets should boycott White House coverage entirely rather than keep seeking access.
-
“ALL MEDIA and I mean ALL FORMS OF NEWS MEDIA need to just stop covering him at all. No print, video, audio or photos. No on air mention of his name.”
modeka.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
The press access fight is a distraction from more important issues, or the outlets' complaints ring hollow.
-
“maybe instead of trying to get included in WH ceremonial crap they should go do some journalism and uncover the 50 billion crimes they have done”
itsmrfungible.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Donald Trump US PresidentCNN Banned news outlet, plaintiffMS NOW Banned news outlet, plaintiffPolitico Banned news outlet, plaintiff
Kaitlan Collins CNN chief White House correspondent
Erin Burnett CNN anchor
How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments
-
6
Outlets seek emergency hearing over repeated violations
Lawyers for CNN, Politico and MS NOW asked for another emergency court hearing, arguing the White House had repeatedly violated the judge's order restoring their access.
“Lawyers for CNN, Politico and MS Now are seeking an emergency court hearing, saying the White House "repeatedly violated" the order.”
— BBC News -
first by France 24 EN, 7h ago · also France 24
1 more headline
-
S
The White House just barred CNN from Air Force One, cutting them out of the Tennessee trip where space is tight. #WhiteHouse sugataai.com/blog/white-h... White House bars CNN from cove...
2 more of the top 3 · 12 posts in this stretch
-
N
The White House is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One today as part of the news outlet’s duties covering the president on behalf of major TV networks. https://www. cnn.com/2026/09/25/politics/wh ite-house-blocks-cnn-air-force-one-travel-pool
-
S
https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-26/whi te-house-blocks-cnn-from-air-force-one-trip/107199678?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
-
-
5
White House bars CNN from Air Force One trip to Tennessee
The White House signaled CNN would be excluded from Saturday's Air Force One trip to a college football game in Tennessee, reportedly replacing the network with a conservative outlet in the press pool rotation.
“The White House is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One on Saturday as part of the news outlet's duties covering the president on behalf of major television networks.”
— Kaitlan Collins -
25 outlets first by Investing.com News, 12h ago · also Independent UK, Philadelphia Inquirer, CBC, Hindustan Times, The Hill, NY Post +18 · read ↗
-
first by Deadline, 20h ago · also The Hill, CNN, Associated Press, Boston Globe, Mercury News, Philadelphia Inquirer +9
12 more headlines
- 5 major networks rejoin White House TV pool after CNN standoff The Hill · 20h ago
- White House TV pool resumes coverage after CNN's access is restored CNN · 20h ago
- White House TV pool appears to be back in operation, but CNN's media analyst calls situation ‘fluid’ Associated Press · 20h ago
- White House television pool resumes after banned news outlets regain access Guardian Media · 20h ago
- Five major networks rejoin White House TV pool after CNN standoff The Hill · 20h ago
- White House TV Pool Returns After Networks Stood With CNN The Wrap · 20h ago
- White House TV pool resumes coverage of Trump after CNN regains access Mastodon · 20h ago
- White House TV pool is back in operation after a dayslong ban of news outlets from grounds PBS NewsHour · 20h ago
- White House TV pool standoff ends — for now The Hill · 20h ago
- White House TV press pool resumes coverage after CNN, Politico, MS Now passes reinstated Washington Examiner · 19h ago
- The White House network TV pool resumes operations after a dayslong ban of news outlets from grounds Channel News Asia · 17h ago
- White House TV pool coverage resumes UPI · 17h ago
-
The White House is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One on Saturday as part of the news outlet’s duties covering the president on behalf of major television networks.
2 more of the top 3 · 25 posts in this stretch
-
N
The White House has signaled that CNN will be left off Air Force One for President Donald Trump's Saturday trip in the latest media restriction in an ongoing dispute with First Amendment implications.
-
D
So frustrating watching everyone who could have held this guy accountable fail or cower for a decade, and arriving at the point where holding him accountable is now incredibly unlikely. Stage is set for him, his family and allies do whatever they please with whatever is left of US power & wealth *in secret* now. # journalism # USPol # politics…
-
-
4
TV networks resume White House pool coverage
US television networks, which had suspended coverage in protest, resumed pool coverage of Trump's White House events on Friday, providing live access to Xi Jinping's farewell tea after CNN's access was restored.
-
4 outlets first by Dawn, 7h ago · also Straits Times, Japan Times, Channel News Asia · read ↗
-
first by Hindustan Times, 22h ago · also Deadline, SCMP
-
R
Trump bans the press, so they cannot cover Xi at the White House, then posts online that CNN has refused to cover the event, describing himself as the victim of his own ban. Erin Burnett has the story: https:// youtu.be/JxZz9ifYf4s?si=sWVpn4 6B0rG1Q2MJ
2 more of the top 3 · 15 posts in this stretch
-
But the Communist Chinese press is allowed?? America? Have you gone deaf & blind?
-
CNN and MS NOW say reporters blocked from Xi state dinner arrival, hours after regaining White House access Journalists from CNN and MS NOW were denied access to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state dinner arrival on… # UnitedStates # US # USA # administration # DonaldTrump # newsorganizations # Politico # POTUS # presidentdonaldtrump #…
-
-
3
CNN and MS NOW denied access to Xi's state dinner arrival
Despite the restored access order, White House staff denied CNN and MS NOW journalists entry to cover Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival for a state dinner, after specifying which "type" of journalists could cover the event.
“MS NOW and CNN journalists have just been denied access to covering Xi Jinping's arrival back at the White House for tonight's state dinner.”
— Kyle Griffin -
3 outlets first by The Independent, 20h ago · also Forbes, Independent UK · read ↗
-
first by Forbes Business, 1d ago · also Euronews, Forbes
1 more headline
-
K
BREAKING on MS NOW: MS NOW and CNN journalists have just been denied access to covering Xi Jinping's arrival back at the White House for tonight's state dinner.
2 more of the top 3 · 145 posts in this stretch
-
Burnett: CNN was denied access moments ago to cover the guest arrivals of President Trump's state dinner for Chinese President XI.
-
N
# CNN # WhiteHouse reporters denied access to # Xi # StateDinner arrival [waaay after whatever BS hour they told the # court ] The White House Thurs denied 2 CNN # journalists from covering the leader of # China ’s arrival back at # Trump ’s White House for a state dinner, after trying to tell the # network which “type” of journalists could cover…
-
-
2
Outlets file emergency request after being refused access anyway
CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed an emergency request for a hearing Thursday morning, saying reporters were refused access to the White House despite the court order; they were finally allowed onto the grounds around noon.
“CNN, MS NOW and Politico request emergency hearing after reporters were refused access to the White House despite a court order.”
— CNN -
first by Sydney Morning Herald, 1d ago
-
1 outlet News outlets ask for emergency hearing after Trump administration blocks White House access
first by WBUR, 1d ago
-
CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed an emergency requestfor a hearing Thursday morning after reporters were refused access to the White House despite a court order.
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
-
C
* RPT -- CNN, MS NOW, POLITICO REQUEST IMMEDIATE COURT HEARING AFTER BEING BLOCKED FROM WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS ON THURSDAY -- FILING * CNN, POLITICO, AND MS NOW SAY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH COURT ORDER TO LIFT BAN ON WHITE HOUSE ACCESS -- COURT FILING @reuters.com
-
N
Reporters for # CNN & # MSNOW were finally allowed to re-enter the White House grounds around noon Thursday. Earlier, the # Trump admin had repeatedly barred journalists from those outlets & # Politico from entering the grounds even after a federal judge ordered the immediate restoration of their access. # law # SeparationOfPowers # judiciary #…
-
-
1
Federal judge orders access restored, calls ban likely unconstitutional
A judge ordered the administration to immediately restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters' White House access, ruling the ban was likely unconstitutional; the White House said it had reinstated the journalists.
“The White House said it had reinstated journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after a federal judge deemed President Trump's ban on the three news outlets' reporters likely unconstitutional and ordered their access immediately restored…”
— Reuters -
first by NPR Business, 1d ago · also Deadline, New Republic, The Gateway Pundit, New York Times
4 more headlines
- CNN & MS Now Say They Were Denied White House Access To Cover Trump's State Dinner For Chinese President Xi Jinping Deadline · 20h ago
- David Ellison Dines With Trump and Xi as CNN Banned From White House New Republic · 20h ago
- WATCH: CNN Claims They Were Denied Access to Arrival Ceremony for Xi Jinping's State Dinner - White House Responds The Gateway Pundit · 20h ago
- White House Restores Access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico New York Times · 20h ago
-
3 outlets BREAKING: Hearing on Trump's ban of CNN, MS NOW, Politico from White House ends with no ruling
first by The Post Millennial, 2d ago · also CNN, The Times of India
2 more headlines
-
The White House has disabled badges, grounding a reporter at the gate, yet legal experts warn this unprecedented access ban is unconstitutional. #WhiteHouse sugataai.com/blog/ms-now-... MS NOW denied access to White ...
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
-
Journalists, advocates demand Ellison condemn White House ban, back lawsuit FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, Sept. 21, 2026 — A coalition of over 100 leading journalists, rights organizations, academics, and advocates sent a letter today demanding that Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison publicly condemn President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional…
-
-
background
White House bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from access — The Trump administration barred reporters from the three outlets from White House grounds and events, a ban later described by outlets and a federal judge as targeting specific news organizations.
What people are saying 12 voices from 3 sites · best of 203 · verbatim
- Who can actually be charged or held in contempt — the staff who blocked access or the officials who ordered it?
- Will other press pool members walk out in solidarity, and will the courts impose real penalties for non-compliance?
- Yesterday
-
M
Sources: the White House has blocked CNN from traveling with President Trump on Air Force One on Saturday to Knoxville, TN, jeopardizing the rotational TV pool (Scott Nover/Washington Post) https://www. washingtonpost.com/business/20…
- Sep 24
-
P
CNN and MS Now journalists denied access to White House state dinner despite court ruling https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/s ep/24/judge-orders-trump-restore-white-house-access-cnn-ms-now-politico-media-ban # WhiteHouse # Journalism
-
F
The outlets had their White House press credentials removed last week, though a judge lifted the ban against them Thursday.
-
🇺🇸🇨🇳 CNN says it was blocked from covering Xi Jinping’s state dinner arrivals at the White House, even after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. Trump then complained that CNN and MS NOW “refused” to cover Xi’s arrival
-
CNN denied access to arrivals for White House state dinner https://www. cnn.com/2026/09/24/us/video/eb of-kristen-holmes-denied-access-white-house-state-dinner-xi-jinping?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into US News @ us-news-CNN
-
CNN Says It Was Denied Trump White House Access To Cover Arrivals At State Dinner For Chinese President Xi Jinping https:// deadline.com/2026/09/trump-sta te-dinner-cnn-coverage-1237113326/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Business @ business-Deadline
-
MS NOW and CNN journalists denied access to covering Xi Jinping's arrival back at the WH for tonight's state dinner. What an embarrassment to our country.
-
This is a Constitutional crisis. Trump ignores judge's orders.
-
maybe instead of trying to get included in WH ceremonial crap they should go do some journalism and uncover the 50 billion crimes they have done
-
I am so tired of them allowing him to break law after law after law, taking away rights and more rights and more rights. Most of all I’m tired of no one, noticing that this is no longer a democracy.
-
So much for a court order. The law and order president 🖕
-
What's it going to take to make this fascist regime follow the law?