Journalists from CNN and MS NOW were turned away from the White House Saturday, a day after Trump announced he was banning the outlets along with Politico over what he called “FAKE NEWS.”
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Reporters from CNN , Politico and MS NOW showed up to the White House Saturday only to find their credentials no longer worked, a direct result of a ban President Trump announced the day before targeting the three outlets. Trump had accused the three of nothing but “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.”
MS NOW didn’t hold back in its response, posting on X that the White House belongs to the American people and operates on taxpayer dollars, not the president’s personal property to control. The network vowed to pursue every available legal avenue to protect its First Amendment rights and defend the broader role independent journalists play in a functioning democracy.
Reporters Turned Away at the Gate
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner described what happened when she tried entering the grounds Saturday morning. Her badge simply stopped working. She said on air that a security officer asked her to hand it over, telling her it had been deactivated. When she pressed for an explanation, the officer told her the decision was out of his hands.
Gardner also noted that a photographer working with her was blocked from entering as well, while one of the network’s producers was somehow let through without issue. Neither MS NOW nor the reporter offered a clear reason for the inconsistency.
Over at CNN, White House correspondent Betsy Klein had a similar experience. She was held in the security kiosk for roughly a minute before leaving without her press credential, which she said security had taken from her.
CNN confirmed the incident in its own statement Saturday, framing the ban as a direct violation of constitutional protections. The network argued it has a right under the Constitution to report without government interference, calling the ban an illegal attack on that fundamental right. CNN added that it had no intention of backing down from its responsibility to hold those in power accountable and would keep covering the administration’s actions regardless of the pushback.
Politico’s Editor-in-Chief, in an email to the newsroom said that – “A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter. Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House. We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”
How the Ban Started
Trump laid out his reasoning in a Truth Social post Friday afternoon, arguing that media organizations shouldn’t be allowed to repeatedly publish what he characterized as fictional or dishonest coverage of the president. He also hinted that additional outlets could face similar bans down the road, though he didn’t name any specific targets.
CNN had responded to the initial announcement Friday by affirming its confidence in its White House reporting team and standing behind their coverage as fair and accurate.
Politico pushed back as well. The outlet’s communications team, Politico Press, posted on X disputing Trump’s claim that the publication receives government subsidies, calling the accusation false and something that has already been repeatedly disproven. The statement made clear Politico intends to keep covering the White House fairly, both under this administration and future ones, and would fight hard against any effort to limit its First Amendment rights.
Trump’s Explanation and the Fallout
When a reporter asked Trump about the ban shortly after he announced it, he described the decision as a response to what he called years of accumulated negative coverage, though he stopped short of pointing to any specific story or incident that triggered it.
The move has drawn sharp criticism well beyond the newsrooms directly affected. Former President Barack Obama addressed the situation during a speaking appearance at Colgate University Friday, with audio of his remarks later obtained by NBC News. Obama said he couldn’t imagine having taken a similar step during his own presidency, using the hypothetical of banning Fox News to illustrate just how unusual the move is.
