President Trump announced on September 18, 2026, that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would no longer have access to the White House, effective immediately. The announcement is the most recent in a series of changes to White House media credentialing and press pool policy since early 2025, including new procedures for selecting which reporters join the official press pool.
White House Press Access – Introduction
White House press access rules have changed multiple times since January 2025, affecting which reporters and news organizations can cover presidential events, travel with the president, and access certain areas of the White House complex. These changes include a new process for selecting the White House press pool, restrictions on the Associated Press that led to a federal court case, and, as of September 2026, a announced ban on three specific news organizations.
This report tracks the verified timeline, court proceedings, and current statistics behind these changes to White House press access, based on official court records, White House communications, and wire service reporting.
Interesting Facts About White House Press Access in 2026
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Outlets Named in September 2026 Announcement | CNN, MS NOW, and Politico |
| First Outlet Affected (Feb. 2025) | The Associated Press |
| Days AP Access Was Restricted (per court filing) | 44 days |
| Date White House Press Secretary Took Over Pool Selection | February 25, 2025 |
| AP Lawsuit Filed | February 21, 2025 |
| AP Preliminary Injunction Granted | April 8, 2025 |
| News Organizations That Joined a Letter Supporting AP | 30+ |
Data Source: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; White House Communications Office; Wire Service Reporting
These figures track the documented sequence of changes to how the White House manages press access since early 2025. The Associated Press dispute was the first major case, running from the initial restriction in February 2025 through a federal court ruling in April 2025. The September 2026 announcement naming CNN, MS NOW, and Politico represents a new step: rather than a dispute over a specific editorial policy, it named three organizations directly in a single announcement.
White House Press Access Timeline 2026 | Key Dates
KEY WHITE HOUSE PRESS ACCESS EVENTS, 2025-2026
Feb 2025 AP access restricted over an editorial style dispute
Feb 2025 White House takes over press pool selection
Apr 2025 Court orders AP access restored; pool structure changed
2025 Access to the "Upper Press" office changed to by-appointment
Aug 2026 Treasury sets credentialing terms for G20 coverage
Sept 2026 CNN, MS NOW, and Politico named in access announcement
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 11, 2025 | AP told it would be restricted from an Oval Office event over an editorial style disagreement |
| February 25, 2025 | White House Press Secretary announces she will select press pool members directly |
| April 8, 2025 | Federal judge orders AP’s access restored via preliminary injunction |
| April 15, 2025 | White House restructures the wire-service pool seat |
| 2025 (undated) | Access to the “Upper Press” office area changed to by-appointment only |
| August 2026 | Treasury Department sets credentialing terms for journalists covering a G20 meeting in North Carolina |
| September 18, 2026 | CNN, MS NOW, and Politico named in a White House access announcement |
Data Source: Court Records, Associated Press v. Budowich; White House Communications Office Memoranda
The changes began in February 2025, when the Associated Press was told its access to certain events would be restricted following an editorial disagreement over how the wire service referred to the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after, the White House Press Secretary announced she would select press pool members directly, a change from the previous arrangement in which the White House Correspondents’ Association managed that rotation.
Additional changes followed through 2025 and 2026: access to the “Upper Press” office area moved to a by-appointment system, and in August 2026 the Treasury Department set new credentialing terms for a G20 meeting in North Carolina, extending similar policy changes to another federal agency.
The AP v. Budowich Case 2026 | Timeline of the Court Case
AP v. BUDOWICH — CASE TIMELINE
Feb 21, 2025 AP files suit
Apr 8, 2025 District court grants preliminary injunction for AP
Apr 15, 2025 White House restructures the press pool
Jun 6, 2025 Appeals court grants a partial hold on the injunction
| Case Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Case Name | Associated Press v. Budowich |
| Filed | February 21, 2025, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia |
| Named Officials | Taylor Budowich, Karoline Leavitt, Susie Wiles |
| District Court Ruling | Preliminary injunction granted for AP, April 8, 2025 |
| Appeals Court Status | Partial hold granted, June 6, 2025 |
Data Source: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
The Associated Press filed suit against three White House officials on February 21, 2025, seeking restored access to events after its restriction over the Gulf of Mexico naming dispute. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden granted AP a preliminary injunction on April 8, 2025, ordering access restored.
Following the ruling, the White House restructured the wire-service pool seat on April 15, 2025, with Bloomberg and Reuters sharing one seat going forward. AP’s attorney described the period before the ruling as “44 days” of restricted access in a court filing. The case remains the primary legal reference point for how similar access disputes have been handled since.
September 2026 CNN, MS NOW & Politico Announcement | What Happened
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT — KEY FACTS
Outlets Named 3 (CNN, MS NOW, Politico)
Announcement Method Truth Social post
Enforcement Status (at time of writing) Not yet confirmed
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Outlets Named | CNN, MS NOW, Politico |
| Announced Via | Truth Social post, September 18, 2026 |
| Stated Reason | Dissatisfaction with the outlets’ coverage |
| Enforcement Status (at time of reporting) | Journalists reportedly continuing to work at the White House as usual; no confirmed enforcement |
Data Source: Wire Service Reporting, September 18, 2026
President Trump announced the change in a Friday afternoon social media post, citing dissatisfaction with the three outlets’ coverage of his administration. Speaking to reporters afterward, he described the decision as based on overall coverage patterns rather than any single story.
As of the most recent reporting available, journalists from the named outlets continued working at the White House as usual, with no confirmed enforcement action taken. For more on how the White House press corps typically interacts with the administration outside daily briefings, see White House Correspondents’ Dinner Statistics.
Other Press Credentialing Changes 2026 | Pentagon & Treasury
CREDENTIALING CHANGES BEYOND THE WHITE HOUSE
Pentagon credentialing policy New policy introduced, later revised
Treasury G20 credentials New terms set, August 2026
| Agency | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pentagon | New credentialing policy for reporter access to the building | Revised after a court review; a further revision followed |
| Treasury Department | New credentialing terms for journalists covering G20 events | August 2026 |
Data Source: Federal Court Filings; Wire Service Reporting, 2025-2026
Credentialing changes have also occurred at other federal agencies. The Pentagon introduced a new policy governing reporter access to the building, which went through a court review process and was subsequently revised. The Treasury Department separately set new credentialing terms for journalists covering a G20 meeting in North Carolina in August 2026.
Public Opinion on Press-Government Relations 2026
PEW RESEARCH SURVEY — PRESS-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, JUNE 2026 (%)
Acceptable for journalists to criticize politicians █████████████████████ 68%
Acceptable for politicians to criticize journalists █████████████████ 56%
| Survey Question | % Saying “At Least Somewhat Acceptable” |
|---|---|
| Journalists criticizing politicians | 68% |
| Politicians criticizing journalists | 56% |
| Survey Period | June 22-28, 2026 |
| Survey Population | US adults |
Data Source: Pew Research Center, “Americans Value Press Freedom but Differ on Its Limits,” September 2026
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late June 2026 found most Americans see criticism flowing in both directions as broadly acceptable. 68% of US adults said it is at least somewhat acceptable for news organizations and journalists to criticize politicians, while 56% said it is at least somewhat acceptable for politicians to criticize journalists and news organizations in return.
Frequently Asked Questions About White House Press Access in 2026
Which media outlets were named in the September 2026 White House announcement?
President Trump announced on September 18, 2026, that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would no longer have White House access, effective immediately.
Why was the Associated Press’s access restricted in 2025?
The AP’s access was restricted starting in February 2025 following a disagreement over the wire service’s editorial style regarding the Gulf of Mexico.
Who selects the White House press pool now?
As of February 25, 2025, the White House Press Secretary selects press pool members directly, a change from the previous system managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Did a court rule on the AP’s access case?
Yes. A federal judge granted the AP a preliminary injunction on April 8, 2025, ordering its access restored, after which the White House restructured the wire-service pool seat.
How long did the AP’s initial access restriction last?
AP’s attorney described the restriction as lasting 44 days in a court filing, ahead of the April 2025 ruling.
Have credentialing changes occurred at other federal agencies?
Yes. The Pentagon introduced a new credentialing policy for building access, and the Treasury Department set new credentialing terms for journalists covering a G20 meeting in August 2026.
What do Americans think about criticism between the press and politicians?
A June 2026 Pew Research survey found 68% of Americans consider it at least somewhat acceptable for journalists to criticize politicians, and 56% say the same about politicians criticizing journalists.
Has the September 2026 announcement been enforced?
As of the most recent reporting, journalists from the named outlets continued working at the White House as usual, with no confirmed enforcement action taken.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.