On September 18, 2026, Donald Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

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 (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them "alive." Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant "reporting" FAKE NEWS! Media Outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

More:

• Sep 19, 2026: CNN, MS NOW, Politico say their journalists have been denied access to the White House | The Hill
• Sep 18, 2026: Trump says CNN, MS NOW, Politico banned from White House | The Hill
• Sep 18, 2026: Here's how CNN, Politico and MS NOW are responding to Trump's White House ban | The Hill

Oct 26, 2026 Update

6 citizens sue Trump over White House bans on news outlets
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6172985-citizens-sue-trump-white-house-bans/

Oct 12, 2026 Update

DOJ investigating 5 major TV networks over response to White House press ban
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6141115-doj-investigates-tv-networks-boycott/

Oct 3, 2026 Update

Justice Department asks court to let Trump reinstate White House press ban
https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/02/politics/justice-department-asks-court-allow-white-house-press-ban
https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rcjxb4Jy8Em0/v0

Sep 29, 2026 Update

Banned news outlets ask judge to extend block on White House enforcement
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6116933-cnn-msnow-politico-trump-white-house-media-ban-legal-battle/

Sep 28, 2026 Update

Networks to resume TV pool coverage of Trump despite White House block of CNN
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6115248-tv-networks-continue-trump-pool/

Sep 27, 2026 Update

Blanche claims Trump ‘hasn't denied access' to White House reporters
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6113681-blanche-defends-trump-media-ban/

Sep 26, 2026 Update

CNN says its reporters were barred from joining press pool on Air Force One
https://thehill.com/media/6112790-trump-cnn-barred-air-force-one/

Sep 24, 2026 Update

5 major networks rejoin White House TV pool after CNN standoff
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6111575-major-networks-back-white-house-pool/

Journalists for CNN, MS Now, Politico allowed back in White House following Trump ban
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6109272-cnn-msnow-reporters-regain-white-house-access-trump-media-ban/

Sep 23, 2026 Update

DOJ fights lawsuit challenging Trump's White House media ban: Access is a ‘privilege'
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6105819-doj-trump-administration-defense-white-house-media-ban/

Peter Navarro calls on Cabinet secretaries, officials to boycott Fox
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6106900-navarro-urges-fox-news-boycott/

Sep 22, 2026 Update

‘Literally state-run TV': Trump launches YouTube channel amid boycott by US networks
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/22/trump-launches-youtube-channel-amid-boycott-by-us-networks

Trump tells CNN's Collins ‘you shouldn't be here' on way into UN
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6103823-trump-collins-white-house-un-assembly/

Sep 21, 2026 Update

At 4:53 am Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

MS NOW, CNN and Politico sue Trump over White House ban
https://www.ms.now/news/ms-now-cnn-politico-lawsuit-trump-media-ban

TV networks pause pool coverage of Donald Trump in solidarity with outlets barred from White House
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6101588-tv-networks-donald-trump-pool-disruption-msnow-cnn-politico-white-house-ban/

Trump bans CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House
https://thehill.com/opinion/lindseys-lens/6102232-cnn-msnow-politico-banned/
Read the lawsuit here: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=000001a0-c343-d2df-a1f4-f7cf04bf0000

Vance defends White House ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6101796-vance-defends-trump-media-ban/

Donald Trump defends banning CNN, Politico, MS Now reporters from White House
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6101202-donald-trump-cnn-politico-msnow-white-house-ban-defense/

At 12:39 pm Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

As expected, Fake News CNN, Politico (Pay back the 8 Million Dollar contribution made by the U.S. Government to keep them afloat!), and MSNOW (formerly known as MSDNC!), have brought suit to gain access to the White House, and your President, ME! They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet. The Judge's name is Tim Kelly, and he was, sadly, appointed by "TRUMP." In other words, almost without question and, as usual, we'll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown "sources," shouldn't be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World. It is called the Oval Office, and it should be treated with Decorum, Respect, and Dignity, not defiled by Third Rate Clowns, who purposefully distort, twist, and degrade with everything they write or publish. Virtually every story about me, or anything having to do with me, is negative, wrong and, in many cases, DANGEROUS for our Country! No matter how GREAT my Achievements, they trivialize and demean. The fact is, I won all seven Swing States, the Popular Vote, the Electoral College (312 to 226), and the Counties throughout America by 86%, and yet it is reported that I get 94% bad publicity. With such a Crooked and Corrupt Press, how did I win in such a LANDSLIDE? It is because the Media has NO credibility, and that is a very bad thing for our Nation! Why should I have to give "access" to such people? Perhaps Judge Kelly could explain that! In any event, I have an obligation to fight for the Success and Safety of our Country. FAKE NEWS IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, and I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that the U.S.A. thrives. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP

I received an e-mail from Brian Tyler Cohen where he weighs in on Trump's ban and the collective media response. Here's some of what he said:

At long last, the media seems to have finally woken up to the fact that they are stronger together than they are fighting individual one-off battles against Trump in the most cowardly ways possible. Like, for example, by heaping millions of dollars to settle frivolous lawsuits into his pockets. Caving to Trump's demands doesn't advance their position. All it does is prove to him that they are weak, that he owns them, and that he can make them cave again.

Rather than retreating to their newsrooms to tie themselves in knots trying to regain access to the White House, these outlets banded together to fight back. CNN, MSNOW, and Politico have filed the legal challenges. The White House TV pool suspended its coverage. That means no White House event footage from ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, or even Fox News.

So while I understand that most people (myself included) will applaud the fact that Trump has effectively silenced himself and recognize that that's a pretty damn effective strategy to get this media hound of a president to very quickly change course, that is not why the press is doing it, nor should it be why the press is doing it. The only justification that's needed here is that we have a fundamental First Amendment right to press freedom in this country.

Commentary:

Notice that Trump said he is "proud" to announce his ban.

In addition to banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, Trump says there are more "Fake News" media outlets to come.

THIS IS CENSORSHIP AND IT HAS NO PLACE IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY!

How many lies and how much B.S. has come out of the mouth of Trump over the past 10 years?

How many lies and how much B.S. has been disseminated by Fox News over the past 10 years?

Trump lies, and gaslights, and spews out B.S. like no other president in the history of America. To him that's OK, but if he thinks or feels that someone else, or some other entity is doing the same thing he does all the time, well, that's a travesty and it must be banned!

This is akin to the Nazi book burning that took place in May of 1933, several months after Adolph Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. The point of the burning was to simply eliminate and get rid of anything with a view that didn't agree with Nazi ideology. This is essentially what Trump is doing with his ban.

This is just another example of Trump's authoritarian nature.

AUTHORITARIANS LIKE TRUMP HAVE NO PLACE IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY!

According to an article on the American Library Association website entitled "First Amendment and Censorship":

Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that some individuals, groups, or government officials find objectionable or dangerous. Would-be censors try to use the power of the state to impose their view of what is truthful and appropriate, or offensive and objectionable, on everyone else.

THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT TRUMP IS DOING WITH HIS BAN.

By banning these media outlets from the White House, Trump is denying them access to information they need to do their jobs. He's doing it because he doesn't like the way they do their jobs. By doing that, Trump is suppressing media coverage he doesn't like.

Speaking with reporters at the White House, when asked "Are you trying to intimidate the press from doing their job?" Trump responded "No, no, no, no, no. I dislike dishonest press, like you. I think you're terrible." Later in the conversation Trump said:

It's sick. I mean, there's something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories," he said. "Now, if they want to write them, that's fine. But I don't have to let them into my — into the people's house.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, you ARE trying to intimidate the press, and anyone with even half a brain who's barely paying attention can see that!

This is an assault on the Free Press now matter how you slice it.

Trump tries to justify his ban by saying he is "instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS."

IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT IS AND IS NOT FAKE NEWS!

Trump is entitled to his opinions, and he can call out all the "fake news" he wants, but he can't decide and dictate what is truth and what is fiction.

Also, notice that Trump makes a very telling "slip" of the tongue when he says "my" house, and then quickly corrects himself by saying "the people's" house. This is further evidence of how Trump perceives the White House and his place in it. He thinks it belongs to him and he can do whatever he damn well pleases with it.

JD Vance chimed in, calling the ban "totally appropriate." Vance also said:

If you're going to engage in what is effectively far-left propaganda, why would a Republican White House give you special access?

The statements made by Trump and Vance make it abundantly clear that Trump, his administration, and MAGA have a self-righteous, authoritarian mindset. They are all SO convinced and brain-washed that their beliefs, their policies, and their actions are correct (and sanctioned by God) that any other point of view should not be allowed.

This is Nazi Germany like thinking, and it is destroying American democracy.