**Title: Rubio Defends Trump’s Ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Access to White House**
**Date: September 22, 2026**
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly defended President Donald Trump’s recent decision to prohibit three media outlets—CNN, MS NOW, and Politico—from accessing the White House. During an interview with NBC, Rubio emphasized that the ban does not equate to shutting down these organizations but rather restricts their physical presence within the presidential complex.
“We’re not closing CNN,” Rubio stated. “There aren’t a bunch of police officers or soldiers kicking down the doors of MSNBC or MS NOW, whatever it’s called, and arresting people and unplugging it from the grid. They’re just not allowed to work from the workspace at the White House.”
Rubio’s comments come in the wake of a broader discussion regarding media access to the White House, particularly concerning outlets that the administration deems as engaging in “far-left propaganda.” This sentiment was echoed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who also supported the ban, asserting that it is a matter of “basic fairness.” Vance stated, “We’re not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively far-left propaganda.”
The ban was announced by Trump on Friday, who accused the three media outlets of consistently disseminating what he referred to as “fake news” about his administration. The White House clarified that while the First Amendment protects the right to publish, it does not guarantee access to the White House, the briefing room, or the presidential press pool.
The implementation of the ban occurred on Saturday, when journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied entry to the White House and had their access credentials revoked. In response, the affected outlets filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, claiming that the ban infringes on their First Amendment rights. They argue that the government cannot restrict journalists’ access based on their reporting.
A federal judge is expected to review the request for a temporary restraining order concerning the ban. The ongoing dispute has also affected the White House television pool, which allows networks to share footage and coverage when attendance is limited. Following CNN's removal from the pool, several major television networks withheld coverage of Trump’s activities on Monday.
In a move that appears to counter the media ban, the White House launched “Trump TV,” a 24-hour streaming channel available on YouTube and the White House website. The channel features continuous video streaming of presidential speeches and events, including an archived speech from July at Mount Rushmore. The White House promoted the channel on social media, encouraging viewers to receive “real-time updates and live events streamed DIRECTLY to your phone” without the “noise” typically associated with traditional media coverage.
The situation has sparked significant debate regarding press freedom and the role of the media in a democratic society. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, during a recent meeting with Trump, expressed his desire for all members of the press to be present at public events. “We’re going to have all of the members of the press here on the lawn,” Mamdani stated. “And that is something that I believe in – everyone, no matter the opinion or the critique that we engage.”
As the legal proceedings unfold and discussions about media access continue, the implications of the ban on the relationship between the Trump administration and the press remain to be seen.