White House attorney general defends ban on CNN, MS Now and Politico as a privilege, not a right

Attorney General Todd Blanche told ABC’s This Week that the White House can restrict access for news organizations because the White House press pool is a privilege, not a constitutional right. He said the ban on CNN, MS Now and Politico, which began on 19 September, stemmed from President Trump’s “sick and tired” reaction to what the administration deemed inaccurate coverage.

When pressed for specific examples of alleged inaccuracies, Blanche replied that CNN’s reporting was “almost 100 percent negative toward the president” and offered no concrete evidence. He added that the White House “routinely decides who can go on Air Force One” and that denying certain reporters is “common every time the president travels.”

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday, restoring the three outlets’ credentials for 14 days, noting that the record did not show a national-security justification for the revocation. The judge’s ruling contrasted with the administration’s claim that the outlets posed a “national security problem.”

The dispute follows a broader shift after Trump’s 2021 return to office, when the White House assumed control over which media could attend Oval Office briefings and presidential travel, increasing access for outlets supportive of the administration. The controversy arises amid low public approval for President Trump and declining trust in the news media, according to recent polls.

Blanche reiterated that while the First Amendment protects the press to report freely, “when it comes to the White House, it is the people’s house. It is a privilege and not a right to be there,” and asserted that the president has a duty to ensure the American people receive “accurate news.”