Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s attorney general, defended the administration's decision to ban CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House starting September 19, arguing that press access is a privilege rather than a right. Appearing on ABC News' This Week, Blanche stated that the president was “sick and tired” of what he perceived as inaccurate reporting by these outlets. A judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order to restore the credentials of affected journalists temporarily, but CNN faced another barrier when its journalists were excluded from traveling with Trump on Air Force One over the weekend. Blanche maintained that it is common for certain reporters not to be allowed on Air Force One and reiterated the administration's stance that the issue was related to national security concerns, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 25, US TV networks resumed coverage of President Donald Trump’s events at the White House after a judge ordered the administration to lift its ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The ban was imposed last week due to what Trump described as unfavorable press coverage. Despite the reinstatement, tensions remain high; the networks ceased filming White House events in solidarity with banned outlets earlier in the week, resulting in no pool footage during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on September 24-25. The court battle continues, and CNN was barred from traveling with Trump to Tennessee for a weekend trip, though reasons were not officially provided by the administration.
Written for “White House Press Access Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 182 other(s) covering the same event.
Donald Trump’s attorney general Todd Blanche argued on Sunday that the administration banned three news outlets from the White House because it is “privilege … not a right” to be there.
asserted
it → argue → House
Appearing on the ABC News program This Week during the second week of the White House’s dispute over press credentialing and access, Blanche also said that the administration took the decision to ban CNN, MS Now and Politico beginning on 19 September because the president was “sick and tired” of what he considered to be those media outlets’ inaccurate reporting.
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he → appear → September
On Thursday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to temporarily restore the credentials of affected journalists, and they were allowed entry to the executive complex.
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they → issue → complex
But on Saturday, CNN said its journalists were barred from joining the press pool traveling with the president on Air Force One.
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journalists → say → One
“The president hasn’t denied access,” Blanche told the outlet.
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Blanche → deny → outlet
“That’s not the right way to describe it.”
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That → ’ → it
He pointed to Trump’s comments that he is “sick and tired” of certain media outlets’ reporting that the president considers inaccurate.
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president → point → reporting
“There’s still obviously litigation going on, but the important thing … is to know that … being in the White House is a privilege.
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being → ’ → House
It’s not a right,” Blanche said.
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Blanche → ’ → ?
The continuing dispute between the administration and the White House press corp had appeared to be resolving before CNN was again blocked for pool coverage.
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CNN → continue → coverage
That was after outlets stood in solidarity with CNN, MS Now and Politico by briefly refusing to carry pool TV feeds of the president.
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outlets → stand → president
On ABC, Blanche said it wasn’t unusual for a news outlet to not be allowed on to the president’s plane.
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outlet → say → plane
“The White House routinely decides who can go on Air Force One,” Blanche said.
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Blanche → decide → One
There’s all kinds of times when certain reporters are not flying or are flying.
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reporters → ’ → times
“It’s not unusual, and as a matter of fact, it’s common every time the president travels that he and his team decide which reporters get to travel with the president.”
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reporters → ’ → president
Blanche repeated the administration’s position that the affected three outlets’ reporting amounted to a “national security problem”.
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reporting → repeat → problem
Trump has said that there was not any “particular reason” for the action against CNN, MS Now and Politico, arguing “they purposely write negative news, and they do that because they want to … diminished the Republicans and a Republican administration”.
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they → say → Republicans
In the ruling to temporarily restore the three banned outlets’ White House access for 14 days, US district judge Timothy Kelly said there was nothing in the record suggesting that revocation of the press passes was motivated by national security concerns.
“Certainly, that is not what President Trump said when he announced that he was ‘banning’ plaintiffs from the White House – instead, he focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of plaintiffs’ reporting,” Kelly wrote in his ruling.
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Kelly → restore → ruling
Trump was faced with a gloomy political landscape with just over a month before the federal midterm elections in November.
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Trump → face → November
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s overall public approval rating to be at 32%, an all-time low.
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rating → find → %
But confidence in the news media polls lower, with just 28% expressing a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television channels and radio outlets to report the news fully, accurately and fairly, according to a 2025 Gallup survey
uncertain
% → express → survey
Bill Clinton recently commented on the battle between what the news media see as a crude effort at censorship and a denial of constitutional rights – and what the White House views as unfairly negative reporting.
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House → comment → reporting
“There were lots of times when I wanted to ban the White House press corps,” the former president said at the Clinton Global Initiative 2026 summit.
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president → be → summit
“And there’s a reason we have a constitution – because none of us are immune from being pissed off.
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none → ’ → us
“But I’m glad I never did, and I’m glad I couldn’t.
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I → ’m → ?
Blanche was asked what the US constitution’s first amendment – which guarantees the right to a free press – meant to him.
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which → ask → him
“The law says – what the free press can do is they are free to report whatever they want,” Blanche remarked.
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Blanche → say → whatever
But when it comes to the White House, it is the people’s house.
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it → come → House
He added that “it is absolutely the president’s duty to make sure that the American people are hearing accurate news.”
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people → add → news
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