The confrontation between the media and President Donald Trump over press freedoms has intensified, with the dispute now fully in the open.
Trump took to his social platform on Friday afternoon, Sept. 18, to announce he would ban certain media outlets from White House access, a move many regard as a direct challenge to the U.S. Constitution.
The move comes just six weeks before the midterm elections as his support among voters continues to wane. Critics argue it’s Trump attempting to steer public perception and stifle unfavorable coverage.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!,” Trump wrote in the post.
The president went on to accuse the outlets of regularly producing “FICTION and LIES” when reporting on him and his administration.
Later, Trump took questions from reporters in the Oval Office, who asked about his plans to bar the outlets altogether.
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“Every president swears to uphold the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment,” the journalist began.
But Trump cut in, “Yes, I do as well, far more than you,” he snapped.
“How do you justify this?” she pressed.
It’s remarkable the question even reached him, as he kept talking over the reporter.
“Because they’re fake news, and you grow tired of reading and watching fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are so poor. When you look at MSNOW, which used to be MSNBC … it’s fake news. It’s fake news,” he insisted.
As a reporter attempted a follow-up, Trump continued talking over her, “Excuse me, excuse me.”
He went on to accuse Politico of writing “fake” stories as well. “So there’s a lot of news out there. There could be others to join them, and perhaps they can improve, and we’d like to have them back,” he groused.
Trump then resumed his critique of CNN. “You know how fake their reporting is.”
CNN released a statement later that Friday condemning Trump’s threat.
“CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting. We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to provide that reporting without interference or obstruction from the government,” the network declared.
“If the ban the President threatened goes into effect, it would constitute an illegal assault on that fundamental, constitutionally protected right.”
Politico likewise issued a statement saying it would “continue to fairly report on this White House and future administrations. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any effort to restrict them.”
Since reclaiming the White House in early 2025, Trump has repeatedly clashed with the press. He previously barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events after the AP declined to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” following his executive order renaming it.
He has also pursued legal action against other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the BBC, and he has threatened to revoke FCC operating licenses for additional networks.
He has prioritized right-wing networks in the White House briefing room and has repeatedly used derogatory terms against female journalists when their questions displeased him.
The AP noted that Trump’s move amounts to “viewpoint discrimination”—a government singling out specific outlets for the content they publish. The principle lies at the heart of many court cases examining how the president has treated the media.
“Someone needs to explain to President Trump how the First Amendment actually works,” Tim Richardson of PEN America told the AP. “As we’ve seen repeatedly, this administration’s hostility toward the press isn’t about journalism’s accuracy; it’s about resisting scrutiny of its actions.”
Social media erupted with anger over Trump’s threats.
“We’ve never witnessed such an insecure little figure in the Oval Office. He couldn’t be more pathetic,” fumed one user on X.
Others echoed the sentiment. “I don’t usually comment, but that is changing now. The man in the White House is a paranoid figure, seeking revenge on the country itself. He’s a pathetic child-leader destroying the fabric this country was built on. He should be banned!”
A Threads user added, “They hurt his feelings, so we’re headed further down the fascist ladder.”
Commenter Maya MP summed it up in a single word: “Dictator.”
Saturday morning, MSNOW confirmed its journalists were barred from access to White House grounds.
The outlet said it would “take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
CNN reporters were also kept out. It remains unclear whether Politico journalists faced the same restriction.
