Trump banned CNN. Now ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox have stopped the White House TV pool

The move was an escalation of President Trump’s showdown with the White House press corps after he moved to bar journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/business/media/cnn-trump-press-pool-ban.html?unlocked_article_code=1.C1E.Cszv.Qe3OB5GrsP48

There were shockwaves raging through the press industry this weekend after the announcement on Friday that a press ban was invoked at the White House. Three major outlets – CNN, MS NOW, and Politico – learned they were among those finding their access blocked.

This is a ridiculous, overreaching position by the administration, and it will likely be rescinded at some point. The three outlets have already joined in a lawsuit against the administration over the decision. There really is no way the White House comes out looking good over this press ban, but the powers seem intent.

From being petty to oppressive, the administration looks like reactionary harpies. But they are unbothered by the impressions this leaves. CNN announced this morning that it has also now been removed from press pool duties. So this appears to be a fight that will play out for the time being.

But while this is a stern move by the administration, the press reactions, while predictable, also come off as hyperbolic, given the past reactions to similar moves by previous presidents.

Or more accurately, the lack of outrage. We did not see much in the way of widespread claims of First Amendment violations by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. While different, those guys enacted their share of crude actions with the media, and many in the press just took it on the chin.

The previous administration did not face much outrage and accusations of a press ban when it cancelled hundreds of White House passes with a restructuring of qualifications. Biden’s team also blocked the New York Post from political events for a time, in reaction to its coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop.

https://www.mediaite.com/opinion/the-trump-wh-press-ban-sets-off-media-reactions-not-previously-heard-with-previous-bans/

Judge appointed by Trump will oversee news outlets’ lawsuit over White House ban
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly restored former CNN journalist Jim Acosta’s White House press pass during Trump’s first term.https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/timothy-kelly-judge-white-house-ban-lawsuit-01086120

White House shredded for promoting its own news app after Trump’s media ban: ‘State run media’
The White House promoted its official app as a way to receive ‘the news that matters most’

The White House drew widespread criticism for promoting its official app days after President Donald Trump barred three news outlets from the White House.

“Get real-time updates and live events streamed DIRECTLY to your phone,” the White House wrote on X on Monday. It pitched the official app as a way to receive “the news that matters most — straight from the Trump Administration.”

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-white-house-press-ban-media-app-b3053825.html