Trump Expands CNN Ban by Removing Network from White House Pool

<figure><img alt="President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on August 01, 2025 in Washington, DC." src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/D7ANXDRWNVF53LS5E6VZ66WWAY.jpg?auth=ffb954fd07c1249f1b7f78834c11f2f8c439f6fef60c6667dec2646ca2ee32c0&amp;smart=true&amp;width=2166&amp;height=1218" /><figcaption>Win McNamee/Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Donald Trump has expanded his ban on CNN by removing the network from the White House press pool that covers the president. Trump, 80, announced on September 20, 2026, that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were barred from the White House “effective immediately,” citing unfavorable coverage from these outlets. The decision reportedly surprised senior administration officials and occurred while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was out of town.</p><p>CNN was scheduled to take its regular turn as the television pool network on September 21, 2026, and travel with Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. However, the White House removed it from this assignment, according to CNN.</p><img alt="CNN had been due to provide pool coverage of Trump’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly. / Michael M. Santiago / Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images" height="4000" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KFBF2COSBJBXJPWBV7WLFKM2W4.jpg?auth=1d136dfa0c85afa5bc983fc5e4f8c3a096ea4b7076ffbf2fd899cf21a051e142&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6000&amp;height=4000" width="6000" /><p>This action escalates Trump's ongoing conflict with CNN, moving beyond the previous ban on individual journalists from the White House grounds. Traditionally, major networks including ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News share and rotate the responsibility for filming events when space is limited around the president, with the footage made available to other broadcasters and the wider media.</p><p>The White House's schedule for September 21 did not specify a primary television pool network, according to CNN. Hearst was designated as the secondary crew in Washington, while Real America’s Voice, a pro-Trump network, received the secondary assignment for Trump's New York trip.</p><p>Trump expressed support for the ban on September 21, posting on Truth Social: “Trump bans CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from White House.”</p><img alt="Trump announced the press ban on Truth Social. / Truth Social/Donald Trump" height="1016" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/7XGQWKK6XVAHNNE6NIUM5EGBPQ.png?auth=56435e9b8e0294abcfed2743e633b0270fb841b8b296a1df08fdf3351b1c649d&amp;smart=true&amp;width=1310&amp;height=1016" width="1310" /><p>The three organizations had already experienced restrictions, with reporters from CNN turned away from the White House on September 19, 2026. CNN characterized the restrictions as “an illegal assault” on its constitutional rights and pledged to continue covering the administration. Brian Stelter, CNN's chief media analyst, stated that the network had retained First Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous in anticipation of a potential lawsuit. Boutrous previously represented CNN in 2018, successfully overturning an attempt by the first Trump administration to revoke White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s credentials.</p><p>The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and CNN for comment.</p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-pushes-cnn-ban-by-removing-network-from-white-house-pool/">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p>