The White House prevented CNN from boarding Air Force One for a scheduled trip to Tennessee on Saturday, according to announcements from both the network and White House guidance to the press corps. The exclusion barred the outlet from fulfilling its rotating television pool duties, which involve covering presidential travel and disseminating reports to news organizations unable to attend specific events.
This action followed a pattern of media restrictions initiated a week earlier, when the administration revoked White House access for CNN, MS Now, and Politico. President Trump cited what he characterized as unfavorable reporting, stating on Truth Social that “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES” and indicating additional outlets could face similar action. The press pool collectively suspended video coverage in protest, issuing a joint statement asserting that the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about government operations.
The affected outlets filed a lawsuit challenging the access restrictions as a First Amendment violation. Department of Justice attorneys defended the ban on national security grounds, citing media reports involving what they described as sensitive and classified information. A US district judge subsequently ordered the administration to restore access to the three outlets. However, when journalists from these organizations sought White House entry on Thursday morning, they faced delayed access until midday, and CNN’s editorial team and an MS Now reporter were later blocked from covering a state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.
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