Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico From White House Grounds, Three Outlets File First Amendment Lawsuit Within Hours

President Donald Trump announced on September 18, 2026 that he was banning CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico from White House grounds, citing what he called their constant reporting of fiction and lies. Reporters from all three outlets were physically denied access to the White House on September 19 when they attempted to scan their credentials. Trump warned that other news outlets would follow but did not specify which. The move took White House staff by surprise, with multiple senior aides telling NBC News they were unaware of the decision ahead of time, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was not at the White House when the ban was announced. The three outlets filed a joint federal lawsuit on September 21 seeking immediate restoration of access on First Amendment grounds. The suit argues the ban constitutes viewpoint discrimination, which courts have consistently forbidden. Other major networks refused to provide pool coverage of the president's activities on September 21 in solidarity with the banned outlets. NPR, the New York Times, and other major news organizations issued statements condemning the ban as a blatant violation of press freedom. Democratic Senator Cory Booker said the president has no regard for the First Amendment, while Republican Senator John Barrasso defended Trump's right to control access. The case is expected to be heard by a federal judge in DC District Court within days, and legal experts note similar Trump administration attempts to ban individual reporters have been rejected by courts in the past.