CNN was left off the press pool traveling with President Donald Trump on Air Force One for a Saturday trip to Tennessee, according to the network and multiple outlets. CNN said it had been scheduled to serve as the television pooler for the trip, which involved a college football game in Knoxville.
The exclusion came after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access for CNN, along with MS NOW and Politico, after they had been barred from the building the previous week, according to The New York Times, France 24 and other outlets. The judge said the ban was likely unconstitutional, per France 24.
According to Al Jazeera English, Real America's Voice News replaced CNN on the Air Force One trip. The White House confirmed CNN's exclusion when it did not list the network in guidance sent to the press corps about Trump's Saturday schedule, according to The Guardian.
Separately, CBS News reported that CNN and MS NOW said some of their reporters were denied access to a White House state dinner despite the judge's order. NBC News, Politico, Axios and ABC News reported that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were otherwise allowed back onto White House grounds after the judge's ruling.
Axios reported it was unclear, as of early afternoon, whether television pool cameras would be in place to cover Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
How each side covered it
Left
- Reports led with CNN being excluded from Air Force One after a judge had ordered White House access restored for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
- Outlets noted CNN was scheduled to serve as the rotating TV pooler for Trump's trip to a college football game in Tennessee before being dropped.
- Several outlets framed the exclusion as the latest escalation in the administration's ongoing dispute with news media, citing First Amendment and due process concerns.
- Coverage detailed the judge's ruling that the broader ban likely violated the Fifth Amendment, and noted the administration's defiance in continuing to restrict access despite the order.
“The White House has blocked CNN from traveling aboard Air Force One on Saturday, impeding its TV press pool duties in the latest escalation of the administration\u2019s battle with the news media.” — The Guardian
Center
- Center outlets reported CNN's own account that its journalists were barred from the press pool traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee for a college football game.
- Coverage noted the exclusion came despite a judge's order that had temporarily restored CNN, MS NOW and Politico's access to the White House.
- Some outlets tracked the aftermath, including reinstated credentials for the banned outlets and uncertainty over TV pool coverage of Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping.
“CNN removed from Trump press pool despite judge order to reinstate White House access” — France 24
Right
- Right-leaning coverage relayed CNN's own report that it was barred from the Air Force One pool for the Tennessee trip.
- Reason examined the legal question of whether Trump may lawfully exclude CNN from Air Force One specifically, distinguishing it from the broader White House ban, concluding it was very likely permissible.
“May President Trump Exclude CNN from Air Force One? Very Likely Yes” — Reason
Questions readers ask
What happened with CNN and Air Force One?
CNN said it was barred from the press pool traveling aboard Air Force One with President Donald Trump for a Saturday trip to Tennessee, where Trump attended a college football game in Knoxville.
Why was CNN excluded despite a judge's order restoring its access?
A federal judge had ordered the Trump administration to restore CNN's, MS NOW's and Politico's access to the White House after an earlier ban, but the administration separately excluded CNN from the Air Force One trip, according to The Washington Post and other outlets.
Who replaced CNN in the press pool?
According to Al Jazeera English, Real America's Voice News replaced CNN on the Air Force One trip to Tennessee.
Did other outlets face access issues too?
Yes. CBS News reported that CNN and MS NOW said some of their reporters were denied access to a White House state dinner despite the judge's order restoring their credentials.
What did left- and right-leaning outlets focus on?
Left-leaning outlets emphasized the exclusion as part of an escalating administration battle with the press and its First Amendment implications, while right-leaning outlets focused on the legal question of whether Trump could lawfully exclude CNN from Air Force One.
Sources · 44 outlet reports
- ABC NewsLeft-leaningSome banned media organizations return to the White House after judge's order
- ABC News (Australia)Left-leaningCNN barred from Trump trip after judge strikes down White House ban
- Al Jazeera EnglishLeft-leaningWhite House bars CNN from Air Force One for Trump’s upcoming trip
- Associated PressLeft-leaningA White House press ban was lifted this week. But the tensions and legal battle aren't over yet
- BloombergLeft-leaningWhite House Renews Media Fight, Barring CNN From Trump Trip
- CBS NewsLeft-leaningCNN, MS NOW say some reporters denied access to state dinner at White House despite judge's order
- CNNLeft-leaningWhite House TV pool resumes coverage after CNN’s access is restored
- Common DreamsLeft-leaningFPF comments on White House's defiance of judge's media ban smackdown
- Democracy Now!Left-leaningNobel Laureate Maria Ressa on Trump's Media Ban, Regulating AI & the "Tech Coup in Plain Sight"
- HuffPostLeft-leaningCNN Left Off Air Force One For Trump's Upcoming Trip, White House Signals In New Media Restriction
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningCNN, MS NOW and Politico allowed back at the White House after judge blocked Trump’s ban
- NPRLeft-leaningCNN left off Air Force One for Trump's upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction
- PoliticoLeft-leaningTV pool coverage returns to the White House
- SalonLeft-leaningYears before his CNN and Politico ban, Trump yanked my press pass
- The ConversationLeft-leaningHow due process, not the First Amendment, got the White House ban on reporters blocked in court
- The GuardianLeft-leaningWhite House television pool resumes after banned news outlets regain access
- The IndependentLeft-leaningWhite House bans CNN from Air Force One for Trump trip to Tennessee
- The New RepublicLeft-leaningDavid Ellison Dines With Trump and Xi as CNN Banned From White House
- The New York TimesLeft-leaningCNN, MS NOW and Politico Return to White House After Fight Over Access
- The Washington PostLeft-leaningCNN, MS NOW access unresolved as White House bars some journalists from state dinner event
- VoxLeft-leaningEven Trump knew he’d lose this fight with the press
- Arab NewsCenterCNN left off Air Force One for Trump’s upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction
- AxiosCenterWhite House ordered to restore access to banned news outlets
- BBC NewsCenterWhite House bars CNN from travelling with Trump on Air Force One
- BBC SportCenterWhite House bars CNN from travelling with Trump on Air Force One
- CNACenterTV networks resume covering White House as press access fight continues
- DeadlineCenterWhite House Video Coverage Returns As Networks Resume TV Pool
- Deutsche WelleCenterCNN, MS NOW, Politico regain access to White House
- France 24CenterCNN removed from Trump press pool despite judge order to reinstate White House access
- NewsweekCenterCNN Says It’s Banned From Covering Trump’s Tennessee Trip: What We Know
- ReutersCenterWhy the court fight over the White House media ban isn't over
- RTÉ NewsCenterCNN reporters blocked from Trump Air Force One trip
- South China Morning PostCenterCNN blocked from Trump’s trip as White House signals new media curb
- The HillCenter5 major networks rejoin White House TV pool after CNN standoff
- The Irish TimesCenterWhite House blocks CNN from Air Force One in latest escalation with news media
- The Straits TimesCenterTV networks resume covering White House as press access fight continues
- The Times of IndiaCenterWhite House bars CNN from Air Force One press pool for Trump's upcoming trip
- The Wall Street JournalCenterWhite House Removes CNN From Planned Weekend Trip
- UPICenterWhite House TV pool coverage resumes
- Independent Journal ReviewRight-leaningWhite House TV Pool Resumes After Judge Orders CNN Access Restored
- ReasonRight-leaningA Trump Appointee Blocks the President's Banishment of Disfavored News Outlets
- The Jerusalem PostRight-leaningWhite House bans CNN from Air Force One trip despite federal judge's decision - report
- The TelegraphRight-leaningTrump bans CNN from flying on Air Force One
- Washington ExaminerRight-leaningWhite House TV press pool resumes coverage after CNN, Politico, MS Now passes reinstated