Trump bans MS NOW from White House amid press purge

MS NOW journalists were turned away from the White House grounds right after President Trump promised to ban three major networks, setting up what looks like an unprecedented purge of the press. On Friday, Trump took to Truth Social and declared that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would no longer be allowed inside. He slammed these outlets as fake news before doubling down on the claim when reporters questioned him in the Oval Office. He cited a pile-up of stories from recent years that he simply got sick of.

Early Saturday morning, MS NOW confirmed the ban was already in effect. Their statement read, 'The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars.' The network added they intend to take any step necessary to defend their First Amendment rights and the essential role independent journalism plays in democracy. They stood firmly behind their anchors, reporters, and newsroom. We will continue to report on the President, the administration, and the issues that impact the American people.

Trump told reporters on Friday he wanted the outlets to get better. But in the meantime, somebody has got to keep them away. He made the announcement during a media briefing on pharmaceutical drug pricing inside the Oval Office. His initial post warned that media outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write fiction and lies when covering the President of the United States. Other fake news media outlets were told to follow his lead.

MS NOW White House Correspondent Akayla Gardner reported from outside the grounds Saturday morning. A security guard told her her badge was disabled. She asked why she could not get inside, but he said it was above him. Another MS NOW photographer faced denial too, yet one of her producers' badges worked and let them in. This split access highlights just how messy things have become on site.

The President also threatened that other outlets could be next in the line of fire. He called The New York Times and The Washington Post fake news and crummy. We are probably not going to display the paper anymore in the White House, he said. He has not taken the step of throwing them out yet, but the threat hangs heavy over the institution. Reporters heard at the scene asking if this was a Trump hissy fit or a real decision. It remains unclear whether CNN reporters were also denied access Saturday. Politico reporters are typically not there on Saturdays anyway.

People walked near the area known as Pebble Beach on the north side of the White House when the news broke. The president's decision has been widely condemned across the partisan aisle. Multiple anchors on Fox News, which is usually a favorite network of Trump's, even slammed the ban as an attack on the press. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley called it an assault on long-honored principles of a free press. Political analyst Guy Benson called it exhausting. The White House Correspondents Association said banning news outlets infringed on Constitutional rights. This is about more than the rights of journalists.

Jacqui Heinrich, President of the WHCA and Fox News White House Correspondent, spoke up about the right of Americans to get a full, independent look at the actions and policies of whoever sits in the highest office. She said the WHCA stands with colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and Politico who are being singled out just for doing their jobs. Bruce Brown, head of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, agreed that the ban was flatly unconstitutional and would likely get struck down if challenged in court.

CNN has been banned from the White House as well. Their booth is pictured above before the decision came down. Journalists were seen working at the White House on Friday after Trump announced he was cutting off three outlets. The move has drawn wide condemnation across the political spectrum. Politico journalists typically do not show up on Saturdays anyway, but CNN has yet to say whether their reporters were denied access following the ban.

Trump previously lashed out at the press back in February of 2025 when he barred AP reporters from White House coverage after the outlet decided not to enact his name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The news organization filed a lawsuit and that case is still pending. Trump has had a contentious relationship with the media for quite some time, with no outlets escaping his wrath. He has targeted the Wall Street Journal, the BBC and the New York Times.

Trump often sparred with CNN's Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office, calling her questions dumb and telling her to smile more. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.