CNN, MS NOW, and Politico File Lawsuit Against Trump Over White House Access

<figure><img alt="President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office. He is surrounded by men in suits." src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/5CYJ2EOUCNFJFAHNNA3G46OBNU.JPG?auth=18d5286a3c151fe221c53330a36942ad0d0b36a0cbd7fca0b3034cff3e7ed000&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6487&amp;height=3649" /><figcaption>REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo</figcaption></figure><p>Three national news organizations, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, have initiated a lawsuit against President Donald Trump following a ban from the White House. The lawsuit was filed on September 21, 2026, to restore their access, citing First Amendment rights.</p><p>In a joint statement, the organizations indicated, "This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes." They further stated, "Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference."</p><p>Trump announced the ban on September 18, 2026, via a post on Truth Social, criticizing the news outlets for what he termed as "fiction and lies" in their reporting. Following this announcement, reporters from the affected outlets were denied entry to the White House, and their credentials were confiscated by the Secret Service.</p><p>The lawsuit claims that Trump's actions represent a "chilling" attempt to limit future reporting on him and his administration. It argues that the president's preference for coverage from favorable news organizations violates the Constitution, which protects press freedoms.</p><p>Ted Boutrous, a prominent First Amendment attorney, is representing the three news organizations in this case. The lawsuit highlights previous instances where Trump has attempted to restrict press access, including the revocation of CNN anchor Jim Acosta's press pass in 2018, which was later restored by a judge.</p><p>Additionally, the lawsuit references Trump's attempts to bar the Associated Press from the White House press pool due to the agency's refusal to endorse his efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The president has also faced criticism for his treatment of female reporters, including confrontational remarks made during press interactions.</p>