White House Denies Access to CNN, MSNBC and Politico Journalists

Trump vs. U.S. Media: White House Gets Serious – Journalists Denied Access

U.S. President Trump had announced plans to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. And indeed: reporters were turned away today, their press credentials deactivated.

CNN reporter Betsy Klein was denied entry to the White House and had her press pass revoked — one day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would strip CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of their White House access. Klein reported that a Secret Service employee informed her that her press pass had been deactivated.

"I asked him if he could explain to me why it had been deactivated," Klein said Saturday morning (local time) during a live appearance on CNN anchor Kasie Hunt's program. "He said he had no further information." When she pressed him, the employee advised her to contact the White House press office.

Correspondents from the network are typically on the grounds of the government headquarters when the president is in Washington or at Camp David. Trump is spending this weekend at the retreat in the state of Maryland. Politico journalists are not typically at the White House on Saturdays.

MS NOW and Politico Also Affected

MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner also reported that a Secret Service employee asked her to surrender her pass. "He said [the pass] had been deactivated. I asked why I wasn't allowed in. He replied that it was not within his authority." Gardner described the incident in a live report from outside the White House barriers.

In an email to the newsroom, Jonathan Greenberger, Politico's global editor-in-chief, wrote: "A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House [...]. The Secret Service denied her access to the grounds and confiscated the pass that granted her entry to the White House." The statement added that the outlet stands behind her and all reporters covering the White House.

Networks Announce Legal Action

Both CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) announced they would pursue legal action to defend their reporters' rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees, among other things, freedom of the press. First Amendment experts described the measure as unconstitutional, according to CNN.

"This morning, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. CNN's mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to obstruct our journalism," CNN said in a statement. "We have the constitutional right to conduct our reporting without interference or government intrusion, and this ban is an unlawful attack on that fundamental right."

The broadcaster MS NOW also stated in a release that it stands behind its reporters. "The White House belongs to the American people, and the decisions made there are funded by our tax dollars," the statement read. "MS NOW intends to take all necessary steps to defend our First Amendment rights and the indispensable role of independent journalism in our democracy."

Politico's statement said it would "vigorously defend" its First Amendment rights.

Trump accuses media of lying

US President Trump declared on Friday that he intends to deny MS NOW, CNN, and the news portal Politico access to the White House. On his platform Truth Social, he accused them of spreading "fake news." "Media should not have the ability to constantly write or report FICTION AND LIES when covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. More fake news media will follow," Trump wrote.

Dispute with news agency over "Gulf of America"

In February 2025, the US President had already barred journalists from the news agency AP from access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events. It was a response to AP's decision not to adopt his renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

AP has filed a lawsuit over the matter, and the case is still pending. Since returning to office, Trump himself has initiated legal action against the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the BBC, and other media outlets.