In brief
White House officials have again pulled the plug on media coverage, this time preventing CNN reporters from accompanying President Trump aboard Air Force One. The ban follows a recent lawsuit that forced the administration to lift a prior restriction on several news outlets, but the move is part of a broader battle over press access. While a federal judge said the earlier ban was likely unconstitutional, the move has reignited tensions as Trump signals a hard stance on the press. Other major networks joined the protest by pulling out, and a new Trump‑branded stream has been launched.
White House officials have blocked CNN reporters from traveling with President Trump on Air Force One for his planned trip to Tennessee. The decision follows a judge’s order that had previously lifted a ban on several news outlets, but the administration’s latest move is part of a continuing showdown between the Trump team and the media.
The ban came after Trump and his advisers accused multiple outlets—CNN, Politico and MSN—for publishing what they described as "fiction" about the administration. In response, the outlets said they would pursue legal action to protect their First Amendment rights.
While a federal judge said the earlier ban was likely unconstitutional, the White House has continued to deny access to some CNN and MSN reporters at key events, including a state dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Other major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC, paused their coverage of the president in solidarity with the banned outlets. To counter the sanctions, the White House launched Trump TV, its own streaming channel.
Trump is set to fly to Knoxville on Saturday to attend a college football game between the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas. The flight was cancelled after the White House omitted CNN from its media schedule.
Sources: BBC report
