The Freedom of the Press Foundation condemned President Trump's announcement barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access, calling it a "blatant violation" of the First Amendment. Seth Stern urged journalists to defend access to the White House, public records and whistleblowers. The move follows earlier access disputes, including a 2025 restriction on the Associated Press that AP has challenged in court. It remains unclear how any new ban would be enforced, and reporters from the affected outlets were still on White House grounds at the time of reporting.
Press Freedom Group Blasts White House Ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico as a 'Blatant Violation' of the First Amendment
CNN's Kaitlan Collins and other journalists raise their hands during a press conference at the White House. President Donald Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would be barred from the White House. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Freedom of the Press Foundation issued a sharp rebuke after President Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from White House access, calling the move a "blatant violation of the First Amendment."
Foundation, Advocates Decry the Move
Trump said on Friday the three outlets would be banned, accusing them of publishing what he described as "fake news" about him and his administration. He also warned that additional media organizations could face similar restrictions, and Reuters reported that the president said the ban would take effect immediately.
In a statement released Friday, Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, called the decision an unprecedented attack on press freedom.
"It's difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People's House for criticizing the government," Stern said.
Stern argued that denying reporters entry to the White House would not stop news organizations from reporting on the administration's activities. He urged the press to continue defending journalists' rights to cover the White House and to secure access to public records and whistleblowers.
"The press must continue to fight back to protect their rights, not only to access the White House but to access the public records and whistleblowers this administration so desperately wants to keep from them," Stern added.
Context and Legal Uncertainty
The foundation also criticized the broader dynamic between the Trump administration and news organizations, noting that strained relations have been an ongoing issue. Stern pointed out that prior disputes did not stop journalists from reporting on the president: "Just like he can't keep his name on the Kennedy Center, he can't keep it out of the headlines."
The announcement comes amid a continuing clash over press access. In 2025, the administration restricted Associated Press access after AP declined to adopt the administration's preferred terminology for the "Gulf of America." AP challenged those restrictions in court, and litigation over access has continued.
Legal questions remain about the newly announced prohibition. The New York Times reported that it was not immediately clear how such a ban would be enforced or defended in court.
Reporters from the named outlets were still working on White House grounds on Friday afternoon, with no immediate signs they had been removed. The Freedom of the Press Foundation said journalists would continue covering the administration despite the proposed restrictions.
Note: This article reflects statements and reporting from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Reuters and The New York Times. Developments and legal responses may evolve as litigation and official policies proceed.
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