‘I am banning’: Trump touts 95% GOP approval before targeting 3 major outlets

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump claimed a record 95% approval rating among Republicans in one Truth Social post before announcing a White House ban on CNN, MSNOW, and Politico on Friday, September 18.

Trump said his approval rating among Republicans had reached 95%, compared with 86% for Ronald Reagan, before announcing the media restrictions.

The posts appeared on Truth Social within hours, with Trump warning that other media outlets could also be barred.

Trump announces media ban and cites approval rating

Trump wrote that he was “proud to announce” the ban was effective immediately, accusing the three outlets of “constant” false reporting.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America,” Trump wrote.

He specifically accused Politico of receiving an “illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription” from the US government under former President Joe Biden, calling it corruption in his post.

Trump offered no evidence in the post to substantiate those accusations.

Trump also wrote, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” indicating that the restrictions he announced were not necessarily limited to the three named organizations.

Just a few hours earlier, Trump had touted what he described as a record approval rating within the Republican Party.

He said his 95% rating put him ahead of Ronald Reagan, whom he placed second at 86%.

Trump has invoked Reagan in other political disputes. 

In 2025, he canceled trade negotiations with Canada over a television advertisement that used excerpts from an anti-tariff speech by Reagan, as per CNN.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute said the advertisement misrepresented Reagan's words. 

Trump separately claimed Reagan supported tariffs, writing that the former president “LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY.”

President Trump previously challenged media coverage

The post follows earlier attacks on media coverage, including a dispute involving NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ moderator Kristen Welker.

In August, Trump threatened to have the Federal Communications Commission respond to Welker after she said he would “loom large” over the midterm elections and described his endorsement record as having “mixed results.”

Trump said Welker would be reported to the FCC for what he called a “rebuke or punishment” over a “purposeful inaccuracy,” arguing that his endorsement record was much stronger.

“Unfortunately, she is not the only one,” Trump wrote, accusing what he called the “Radical Left News” of targeting him and saying his endorsement success was “without question, the strongest Endorsement in the History of Politics.”

Trump also clashed with White House press corps

Trump’s latest media action comes after he struck a mixed tone toward journalists at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in July.

Trump told attendees, “I have tremendous respect for the people in this room,” while also saying, “Sometimes I don’t feel you treat me fair.”

He criticized some reporters by name and attacked Democratic political opponents during the speech, which lasted more than an hour.

The dinner had been rescheduled after gunfire disrupted the April event.

Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales was shot during that incident, and the White House Correspondents’ Association later honored him and Washington Hilton staff for their response.