Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House on Saturday, one day after President Donald Trump announced that he was barring the three news organizations over what he described as “fake news.”

The decision marked a further escalation in the Trump administration’s disputes with news organizations whose coverage the president has criticized. The move has also raised questions about First Amendment protections and the ability of journalists to report from the White House.

CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner both reported that their press credentials had been deactivated when they arrived at the White House for work. Shortly afterward, Politico said its White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her credential confiscated.

The three organizations indicated that they were considering legal action to defend their access and press rights. Politico Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenberger said the organization would defend its First Amendment rights, while CNN said it would continue its role of holding government and public institutions accountable.

MS NOW said it intended to take steps necessary to defend its First Amendment rights and what it described as the role of independent journalism in a democratic society.

The White House Correspondents’ Association also called for the three outlets to have their access restored. Its president, Jacqui Heinrich, warned that a standard used to exclude one news organization because of its coverage could potentially be applied to other outlets.

The dispute unfolded while Trump was staying at Camp David in Maryland. White House correspondents are generally present on weekends when the president is in Washington or at the presidential retreat.

Gardner said she was initially able to pass through two security gates but was stopped when her credential was scanned. An officer told her the badge had been disabled and asked her to surrender it, saying the decision had come from higher authorities. An MS NOW producer was allowed inside, while a photographer’s credential was also reportedly deactivated.

Klein said her credential had likewise been disabled and confiscated. She was left with the empty plastic holder and directed to the White House press office for further information.

Amy Kristin Sanders, a Penn State University professor and media law expert, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the administration’s actions. She argued that the dispute reflected broader concerns about the relationship between the Trump administration and independent news organizations.

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter also criticized the decision, describing it as a broader issue involving press freedom rather than simply a dispute between the administration and CNN.

Trump announced the ban Friday on his social media platform, saying he was barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House because of what he called their repeated “FAKE NEWS” reporting. Asked later to explain the decision, Trump repeated his criticism of the three organizations and said he believed the country needed what he called honest news.

The decision follows an earlier dispute between Trump and The Associated Press. During his second term, the administration restricted AP reporters’ access to the Oval Office, Air Force One and other presidential events after the news organization declined to adopt Trump’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.

The AP subsequently filed a lawsuit over the restrictions, and the case remains ongoing. Trump and his administration have also pursued legal action involving other major news organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC, while a separate dispute involving ABC concerns broadcast license renewal.

The Associated Press said Saturday that it supported the news organizations affected by the latest restrictions. The news cooperative said government retaliation should not be directed at news organizations or individuals because of the words they use.

The White House access dispute is now likely to face further legal and constitutional scrutiny as CNN, MS NOW and Politico consider their next steps.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck, updated September 25, 2026.