Get you up to speed: CNN, MS NOW and Politico staffers turned away from White House after Trump ban
Staffers from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico were denied entry to the White House on Saturday morning after President Trump announced a ban on these outlets. Each reporter had their press credentials revoked by the Secret Service, with those affected including MS NOW’s Akayla Gardner, CNN’s Betsy Klein, and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett.
The White House Correspondents’ Association has expressed support for the affected reporters and condemned the ban as an infringement on press freedoms. No further announcements have been made regarding potential access restrictions on additional media outlets.
MS NOW stated its intention to “defend our First Amendment rights” following the revocation of press passes for its staff and others from CNN and Politico. The White House Correspondents’ Association expressed support for the affected reporters, affirming their commitment to defend their colleagues “who are being singled out for doing their jobs.”
What remains unclear — It is not yet known how many additional media outlets may face restrictions from entering the White House following President Trump’s comments.
Staff from MS NOW, CNN and Politico denied entry to the White House after Trump ban
MS NOW, CNN and Politico staffers were turned away from the White House on Saturday morning, the networks said, one day after President Trump said he was banning the three outlets from the property.
WTX US News observed an MS NOW correspondent and cameraman being turned away from the White House around 8 a.m. Saturday. Both had their press passes revoked. The correspondent, White House reporter Akayla Gardner, said on MS NOW she was told her pass was disabled when she tried to swipe in. She said when she asked why, the security guard said the matter was above him.
WTX US News also saw CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein and a cameraman trying to enter the White House grounds on Saturday, and eventually leave without their badges.
Politico said in its morning newsletter that White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry to the White House on Saturday morning. Politico said she was stopped by Secret Service and had her pass confiscated.
MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, said in a statement that it “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
“The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” the news organization added.
Jose Luis Magana/AP 
CNN said in a statement that its “mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism.”
“We will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account, and we will continue to report on the actions and processes of this administration without fear or favor,” CNN added. “CNN stands fully behind our White House team.”
Politico editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger said in an email to the newsroom that the outlet stands by Haslett “and all reporters here covering the White House.” He said that Politico will “vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”
Mr. Trump has also threatened to bar other outlets from the White House, but has not made any further announcements as of Saturday morning.
The president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich, said the organization “stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and Politico who are being singled out for doing their jobs.”
Mr. Trump justified the ban on Friday by saying he was “tired of reading and seeing fake news” from the outlets. He did not highlight any specific stories. He told another reporter that he dislikes “dishonest press.”
The White House referred WTX US News to Mr. Trump’s comments.
This is not the first time Mr. Trump has clashed with press outlets. Last year, the president took steps to bar the Associated Press from White House coverage after the outlet refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” The news outlet sued on First Amendment grounds. In April 2025, a federal judge ruled the White House must restore the AP’s access to presidential spaces. However, a federal appeals court allowed the administration to temporarily ban the AP from smaller restricted spaces, and that legal dispute is ongoing.
During Mr. Trump’s first term, the White House attempted to take away the press pass of then-CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after a testy exchange between him and Mr. Trump. CNN filed suit, and a federal judge ordered Acosta’s press pass to be restored.
WTX US News legal contributor Jessica Levinson said that the latest ban “smacks of content-based discrimination.”
“That’s the primary thing that the First Amendment guards against,” Levinson said.