Press ban turns ugly as White House disables reporter's badge, MS NOW and CNN cry foul

WASHINGTON, DC: The fallout from President Donald Trump's decision to restrict three news organizations from the White House quickly moved to a real-world confrontation on Saturday morning, September 19.

CNN correspondent Betsy Klein, MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner, and Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett were all reportedly turned away while attempting to enter the White House grounds, with their press credentials no longer functioning.

The encounters followed Trump’s Friday announcement that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were being banned from the White House “effective immediately.”

Trump accused the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.”

Reporters turned away from White House

Klein described the incident during a live CNN broadcast with Kasie Hunt, saying a Secret Service agent informed her that her credential had been deactivated.

She said she asked whether the agent could explain the decision but was told that he did not have any additional information.

Klein said she was directed to the White House Press Office for further clarification.

Gardner encountered a similar situation when she arrived to cover the White House.

According to her account, an officer asked her to surrender her badge after telling her it had been disabled.

When Gardner questioned why she could not enter, she said the officer responded that the matter was “above him.”

She later delivered her report from outside the White House.

Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett's press pass was also reportedly confiscated as she was denied entry into the complex.

CNN and MS NOW vow to fight back

CNN responded forcefully to the loss of access, making clear that the network intends to continue reporting on the federal government.

“Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds,” the network said in a statement.

CNN said its reporting would continue despite efforts it characterized as restrictions on physical access and said it believed the government could not interfere with its journalism.

MS NOW likewise indicated that it was prepared to challenge the administration's action through legal channels.

Trump blasted 'fake news'

Trump, on Friday, addressed the decision when reporters questioned him about the ban during an Oval Office appearance.

Asked why CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were being targeted, Trump said there was not one particular reason behind the decision.

Instead, he described the move as the culmination of what he considers years of unfavorable coverage.

Trump said the organizations “purposely write negative news” and argued that their reporting was aimed at weakening Republicans and the Republican administration.

He also used the exchange to point to economic figures he said demonstrated the administration's performance, citing employment, poverty and income levels.

Following the announcement, the White House's rapid-response operation also published a list of CNN stories it characterized as examples of inaccurate or false reporting.

White House access has sparked disputes

The fight also comes after previous controversies over who qualifies for routine White House press access.

In 2023, during former President Joe Biden's administration, the White House introduced revised requirements for journalists seeking permanent “hard passes.”

The credentials provide expedited access to White House press areas, and the new system imposed additional eligibility requirements.

The policy affected hundreds of journalists. A federal court later noted that roughly 500 hard passes were deactivated after the rules were introduced.

The current confrontation differs in that Trump's announcement specifically named CNN, MS NOW, and Politico and was followed almost immediately by reports that journalists working for the affected networks were unable to enter the White House grounds.