'It has gone on far too long': Trump renews White House media ban demand after judge's ruling

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump renewed his demand to keep what he called “FAKE NEWS” out of the White House on Saturday, September 26, after a federal judge ruled his earlier media ban likely unconstitutional.

The judge ordered the administration to restore press access, at least temporarily, after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico over their coverage of his administration.

Trump made his latest remarks in two Truth Social posts on Saturday, questioning why news organizations he accused of negative reporting should be allowed inside the White House.

Trump says negative coverage should keep media out of White House

“Why should perpetrators of FAKE NEWS, like CNN and MSDNC, be allowed access to a very sacred place, the White House?” Trump wrote in his first post.

He also complained that almost 100% of coverage bearing his name was negative, despite what he described as his “big Election Win.”

In a follow-up post, Trump repeated his demand in capital letters, writing, “FAKE NEWS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!! IT HAS GONE ON FAR TOO LONG, AT A TREMENDOUS COST TO OUR COUNTRY.”

The posts renewed the president’s objections to media coverage after his September 18 announcement that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be banned from the White House.

Trump had accused the outlets of publishing what he called “FAKE NEWS” and said other organizations could face similar restrictions.

“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” he wrote on September 18.

He also accused the organizations of reporting “FICTION and LIES” about him, his administration and the United States, adding that other outlets could follow.

Judge rules Trump's media ban likely unconstitutional

The federal judge’s ruling on Thursday found that the ban was likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to restore access, at least for now.

However, the White House had denied entry to some CNN and MS NOW reporters assigned to cover arrivals for a state dinner honoring Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

CNN said that about an hour before Xi was scheduled to arrive, the White House told the network it could cover the event with a photojournalist and audio technician, but not a team including a reporter and producer.

MS NOW White House reporter Laura Barron-Lopez also said she was told she could not enter and should contact the White House communications director.

A White House communications account disputed the outlets’ position on X, writing that “contrary to what the Fake News wants you to believe, they don't just get to have free rein into every part of the White House, every event, and every press call.”

On Friday, White House officials allowed reporters to enter, and coverage returned to normal for the final day of Xi’s visit to Washington.

Other networks paused broadcasts in solidarity

The other four networks in the White House TV pool - ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC - paused their broadcasts of the president in solidarity with the banned outlets.

The access dispute also prompted an emergency court hearing request after CNN, Politico and MS NOW reported being denied entry on Thursday morning, despite the overnight ruling.

In a court filing, the director of White House Operations said the press passes and confiscated badges had been restored by 9.45 am local time. Shortly afterward, all three outlets said they had been allowed back in.

The administration had defended its restrictions in a Tuesday court filing, accusing the outlets of threatening national security through their coverage.

Government lawyers cited stories about missile stockpiles, construction of the White House ballroom and the recent Republican midterm convention.

The dispute also follows an earlier confrontation over press access during the Obama administration. 

In 2009, officials tried to exclude Fox News from a specific press pool interview with an administration official, but the network was allowed in after objections from the other four networks in the pool.