Trump reportedly weighs removing press from White House, but there’s more to the plan

The media outlets filed a lawsuit arguing that their Fifth Amendment due-process rights were violated
Trump is considering relocating White House journalists to nearby buildings (Matt McClain/Getty Images)
Trump is considering relocating White House journalists to nearby buildings (Matt McClain/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid heightened controversy over President Donald Trump’s decision to ban a few media outlets, citing negative and “fake” reporting, the president is now planning yet another eyebrow-raising move.

President Trump reportedly banned CNN, MS Now, and Politico late last week after close aide Natalie Harp showed him a critical MS Now report. The ban later prompted an indefinite boycott of White House pool coverage of President Donald Trump by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News.

Trump now wants to move entire press out of White House

President Donald Trump now wants to move the White House press corps out of the building. But there is a catch. Trump is not banning journalists from covering him or the White House. Instead, he is considering relocating journalists to nearby buildings.

Donald Trump takes questions from members of the press while departing the White House on September 11, 2025. in Washington, DC (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump now wants to move the White House press corps out of the building (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Shifting the journalists to nearby building is not a new idea. A Wall Street Journal report claims that Trump has weighed the idea on multiple occasions during both terms.

He recently brought up the idea again last month, given his growing frustration with the media over the kind of coverage Trump is receiving.

Some people in Trump’s administration advised him not to remove the press from the White House.

However, the outlet was told by a White House official that Trump does not have any immediate plan to remove journalists from the building.

Press ban controversy timeline

President Donald Trump on Friday, September 18, announced that he is banning journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico from entering the White House. After the ban was imposed, journalists from the above mentioned organizations were denied access to the White House.

DOVER, DELAWARE - JULY 22: Natalie Harp, executive assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump, stands as President Trump arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for military casualties of the war with Iran on July 22, 2026 in Dover, Delaware. Trump attend the dignified transfer of of Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Staff Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad and Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Natalie Harp, executive assistant to US President Donald Trump, stands as President Trump arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for military casualties of the war with Iran on July 22, 2026 in Dover, Delaware (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The Journal, on September 20, reported the ban came after executive aide Natalie Harp showed Trump a clip of MS NOW anchors criticizing his administration.

The three banned outlets jointly filed their lawsuit against Donald Trump on Monday, 21 Sept 2026.

The outlets confirmed the same day that they had notified the administration that they were filing a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Their complaint argues that the White House retaliated against them because of their reporting and discriminated against their viewpoints.

The outlets also argued that their Fifth Amendment due-process rights were violated because the credentials were revoked without notice or an opportunity to contest the decision.

CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein departs the White House after having her credential confiscated following President Donald Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein departs the White House after having her credential confiscated following President Donald Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

On the same day, the five major television networks forming the rotating White House press pool, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, boycotted the coverage.

“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting,” said the five networks in a joint statement.

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