White House removes CNN from presidential press pool despite court order

The White House announced that CNN will not be part of the rotating press pool accompanying President Donald Trump on his scheduled visits to Texas and Oklahoma, removing the network from the list of newsrooms assigned to travel on Air Force One. The decision comes despite a temporary restraining order issued by a Trump-appointed federal judge that bars the administration from banning CNN, Politico and MS Now from White House coverage until Oct. 8.

White House communications director Steven Cheung said the judge's order requires the administration to restore newsroom access to the White House but does not obligate the president to include those outlets in specific events such as Oval Office briefings or Air Force One trips. President Trump, in a separate interview with Time magazine, defended the move, stating that he does not need to accommodate outlets that “only write bad stories.”

During the interview, Trump also criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, describing her as “very average” and “the most unhappy young person I’ve ever seen.” He reiterated his belief in an “honest press” while dismissing what he called “fake news.”

The judge’s order, which remains in effect through early October, follows ongoing litigation over media access to what the administration calls “intimate spaces” such as the Oval Office. The White House’s latest action adds to a series of disputes over press freedom that have intensified since the president took office.