The gloves are now all the way off between the media and President Donald Trump in the fight over press freedoms.
Trump took to his social media platform Friday afternoon, Sept. 18, to announce he’s banning certain media outlets from the White House, a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution.
He’s taking the steps just six weeks ahead of the midterm elections as his approval rating continues to tank. Opponents say it’s Trump’s way of trying to control the narrative and limit bad press.
“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 … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!,” Trump wrote in the post.
The president went on to accuse the outlets of constantly writing “FICTION and LIES” when they cover him and his administration.
Later, Trump took questions from reporters in the Oval Office, who asked him about his plans to ban the news outlets.
“Every president takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment,” the reporter began.
But Trump interrupted, “Yeah, I do too, much more so than you,” he sputtered.
“How do you justify this?” she questioned.
It’s amazing Trump even heard the question because he continued talking over the reporter.
“Because they’re fake news, and you get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are no good. When you look at MSNOW, which used to be MSNBC … it’s fake news. It’s fake news,” he insisted.
As a reporter tried to ask a follow-up, Trump continued talking over her, “Excuse me, excuse me.”
He went on to accuse Politico of writing “fake” stories, too. “So, there’s a lot of news. There may be others to join ’em, and maybe they can better, and we’d like to have them back in,” he groused.
Trump went on to continue bashing CNN. “You know how fake their reporting is.”
Saturday morning, CNN said its journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. They say the move, however, will not deter them from doing their job.
“CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism,” the network said.
MSNOW journalists also had to report from outside the White House this morning after officials deactivated their passes.
The outlet says it “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
Politico also issued a statement saying the outlet “will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”
Secret service also denied their reporter, Cheyenne Haslett, access.
Trump has continually scuffled with the press since retaking the White House in early 2025. He banned The Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events. It happened after they refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” after Trump renamed it by executive order.
He has also taken legal action against other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the BBC. He has also threatened to revoke other networks’ FCC operating licenses.
He’s prioritized right-wing networks in the press room. And he’s constantly calling female journalists names when he doesn’t like their questions.
The AP reported that Trump’s action amounts to “viewpoint discrimination.” That’s when the government singles out “specific media outlets for the content of what they say or publish.” The principle is also at the center of many of the court cases focusing on how the president has treated the media.
“Someone needs to explain to President Trump how the First Amendment works,” PEN America’s Tim Richardson told the AP. “As we’ve seen time and time again, this administration’s hostility toward the press is never about the accuracy of news stories, but about its inability to withstand scrutiny of its actions.”
Social media exploded in anger over Trump’s threats.
“We’ve never had such an insecure little b–ch in the Oval Office. He couldn’t be any more pathetic,” a furious X user proclaimed.
Others agreed. “I don’t comment, ever. But that is changing now. The man who is occupying the White House is a psycho. He is seeking retribution on the entire country. He is a pathetic man child. He is deliberately destroying everything this country was built on. He should be be banned!”
A Threads user joined in. “They hurt his feelings so a little more further down the fascist pipeline we go.”
Commenter Maya MP used one word to describe Trump’s actions against the news media. “Dictator.”
