Freedom of the press in the USA
Trump excludes CNN – media insists on freedom of the press
Updated September 19, 2026 – 4:55 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
The US President is waging a battle against media outlets that report critically on him. Now it’s hitting CNN and others a few weeks before the important general elections. They are not the first.
US President Donald Trump bans the renowned TV channel CNN access to the White House. The broadcaster MS NOW and the news portal “Politico”, like the one on its platform, are also affected Truth Social announced. Trump accused them of spreading fake news. Critics see an attempt at intimidation and an attack on press freedom. There could be lawsuits.
With the ban, reporters from these media companies are now excluded from Trump’s press conferences and appointments in the Oval Office. CNN is one of the most famous news channels in the world. “Politico” is part of the portfolio of the German media group Axel Springer. The consequences of Trump’s order are already being felt: journalists from MS NOW and CNN were blocked from access to the White House grounds on Saturday, the media companies announced.
How far-reaching the ban is, how long it will apply and whether journalists will no longer be allowed to be on Air Force One on government flights remained unclear. The exact reason for Trump’s announcement was also not initially known.
The media insists on the constitution and refuses to interfere
When Trump was asked by reporters on Friday whether his ban would hold up in court, he said: “I don’t think a court should allow fake news to be published day after day.” The broadcaster CNN insists on its right to freedom of the press and referred to the US Constitution. There should be no interference from the government.
“Politico” in the USA announced that they would continue to report fairly on the White House. People will vigorously defend their own rights against any attempt to restrict them.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which represents journalists who cover the White House, reacted angrily to Trump’s announcement. “This is about more than the rights of journalists. This is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of those who hold the nation’s highest office,” said WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich.
