CNN and MS NOW staffers turned away from White House after Trump ban, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/cnn-and-ms-now-staffers-turned-away-from-white-house-after-trump-ban/ar-AA2cyIEj?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
19-09-2026
Journalists and crew members from CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico were barred from entering the White House grounds after President Donald Trump announced a ban on the outlets.
Key Details of the IncidentTurned Away at Security: Staffers attempting to enter the White House complex were denied access and had their credentials revoked or confiscated by security.
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner and a cameraman were turned away around 8:00 a.m. when their hard passes failed to scan at the gate.
CNN reporter Betsy Klein and a camera crew member were denied entry and left without their press badges.
Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett was stopped by the Secret Service, who confiscated her access pass.
Reasoning Behind the Ban: President Trump stated on Friday that he was barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico because he was “tired of reading and seeing fake news” and disliked “dishonest press.” He did not cite specific reporting errors or stories when making the declaration, and he suggested additional media organizations could face similar restrictions in the future.
Outlets Respond: All three targeted news organizations condemned the action. MS NOW stated it intends to take all necessary steps to defend its First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism. CNN announced that its reporting on the administration will continue undeterred, and Politico stated it will vigorously defend its reporters’ constitutional access rights.
White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA): WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News released a statement standing in defense of the reporters at CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, emphasizing that they are being singled out simply for doing their jobs.
Historical Precedents: Similar attempts to revoke press credentials during Trump’s previous termmost notably involving then-CNN correspondent Jim Acosta in 2018led to federal lawsuits where courts ruled in favor of journalists on First Amendment and due process grounds, ordering the White House to reinstate revoked credentials.