Fox News Senior White House Correspondent and White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) President Jacqui Heinrich called for President Donald J. Trump to walk back his ban on three “Fake News” outlets from the White House.
The president set off a firestorm on Friday when he unexpectedly announced that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are no longer welcome at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW and followed up his words with action the next day when reporters from the trio of “news” outlets were blocked from access and reportedly had their press passes confiscated on Saturday morning.
Trump’s press ban is the latest episode in a long-running feud with media outlets over coverage that he sees as being unfair, which, considering the abandonment of traditional journalistic principles and ethics by the industry since his entry into politics, would seem fully justified in the eyes of many.
But Heinrich isn’t among them. In a statement posted to X after the ban, the WHCA boss demanded that Trump reverse course and immediately restore access for the prohibited outlets.
Today’s action revoking access for journalists from CNN, POLITICO, and MSNOW violates the First Amendment. The implications extend beyond these organizations: a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future. The…
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) September 19, 2026
“Today’s action revoking access for journalists from CNN, POLITICO, and MSNOW violates the First Amendment. The implications extend beyond these organizations: a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future,” she wrote in the Sep. 19 post.
“The American people, through a free and independent press, must be able to scrutinize those elected to power, regardless of whether government officials view it favorably,” Heinrich continued. “That’s why courts have repeatedly held that once the White House provides access to journalists, it cannot deny that access arbitrarily or based on the content of their reporting.”
“The WHCA calls on the administration to immediately restore our colleagues’ access,” the Fox News journalist concluded.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’ Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant “reporting” FAKE NEWS!” Trump wrote in a Friday afternoon post to Truth Social.
He also indicated that he isn’t finished and that “other Fake News Media outlets” will also have their access revoked.
It didn’t take long for the inevitable lawsuit to be filed over the ban.
— POLITICO Press (@POLITICOPress) September 21, 2026
“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the three organizations said in a statement released early Monday morning.
“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” the statement read.
- Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich calls for Trump to end White House media ban, cites First Amendment - September 21, 2026
- Converse grovels after hysterics liken new sneaker ad to KKK and lynching - September 21, 2026
- GOP nominee booted after ‘misgendering’ trans Rep. McBride at candidate forum - September 19, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.