The Justice Department stated on September 22, 2026, that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico can be barred from certain areas of the White House at the discretion of President Donald Trump. The department argues that the coverage of the Iran war and Trump's ballroom construction project could pose a national security risk, justifying the ban. A court filing from the Trump administration asserts that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a right, despite First Amendment protections for press freedom. The filing also claims that Trump has the authority to control access to private areas of the White House to protect national security information.
The Justice Department's filing was submitted ahead of an emergency hearing before federal judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, DC, where CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are seeking to restore their access to the White House. The case raises significant questions regarding First Amendment protections and has led to suspensions of live coverage of Trump by major TV networks and National Public Radio.
The affected outlets contend that the ban violates their First Amendment rights and due process protections. They describe the ban as a direct assault on constitutional principles and are requesting immediate court action to restore access for their journalists.
The Justice Department maintains that the president has the right to control reporters' access to restricted areas for national security reasons. However, past federal court rulings have favored press access at the White House, reinforcing press freedoms and due process rights. Legal experts have expressed skepticism regarding the government's national security claims, suggesting they may be a post-hoc justification for the ban. The letters sent to the media outlets outline the reasons for the ban, including specific reporting incidents that the government claims threatened national security.
The letters provided the media organizations until September 25, 2026, to submit written objections to the bans. The letters cited various stories published by the outlets, including CNN's reporting on a planned bunker beneath the East Wing ballroom and coverage of the Iran war. The White House has indicated that these stories failed to meet the expectations of press badge holders due to perceived threats to national security and the dissemination of falsehoods. In response to the ban, numerous other news organizations have expressed support for the affected outlets, with major networks declining to provide pooled coverage of the president's events.