The White House has booted CNN from Air Force One and replaced its employees with two MAGA-friendly outlets to fly with President Donald J. Trump on Saturday.
When Trump travels to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Texas Longhorns, it will be LindellTV and Real America’s Voice that take CNN’s place in the pool, the proverbial chef’s kiss after a federal judge blocked his ban on three “fake news” organizations from the White House.
“The White House is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One on Saturday as part of the news outlet’s duties covering the president on behalf of major television networks,” huffed anchor Kaitlan Collins in a Friday night post to X after the news broke.
The White House is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One on Saturday as part of the news outlet’s duties covering the president on behalf of major television networks. https://t.co/D16Sq92nYb
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 26, 2026
“The White House is now preventing CNN from carrying out their TV duties,” whined CNN reporter Alayna Treene to Anderson Cooper about the painful wound to the self-proclaimed “most trusted” name in news’s sense of entitlement.
“That’s the system that allows the networks to share video of the president with the whole country. If they aren’t there, the pool can’t function,” Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), told CNN.
But that won’t be the case, as RAV and LindellTV will get their opportunity to step up to the plate to provide the pool coverage, which will be broadcast on social media.
BREAKING: CNN is NOT being allowed to travel to Tennessee tomorrow with President Trump aboard Air Force One
Instead, @RealAmVoice will be allocated seats on board to cover 47’s trip, and it’ll be broadcasted right here on
CUE THE MELTDOWN pic.twitter.com/zu2EoSXLU0
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 26, 2026
The pool consists of five major networks – ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News – that cover the president every day to ensure that the American people are informed on the duties of their elected leader.
“We did hear our outside lawyer representing CNN, Politico, and MS NOW say earlier today that he believed the restoration of the outlet’s access included the White House pool, but clearly this White House is keeping us from doing so,” Treene told Cooper. “We know that they are definitely singling us out here.”
LindellTV founder and Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell cheered the news.
Great news! LindellTV is publicly traded
Stock symbol $MLMC https://t.co/0xY8BLgu01— Mike Lindell (@realMikeLindell) September 26, 2026
X users relished CNN’s comeuppance.
CNN just lost the Air Force One seat it treated like a birthright.
1. Trump barred CNN from tomorrow’s Tennessee flight.
2. Real America’s Voice got the pool seats instead.
3. The coverage streams live on X, not cable.
4. Hostile coverage finally cost them automatic access.…
— Pamela Hensley (@PamelaHensley22) September 26, 2026
He may have to allow them into his home… but they can stay TF off his plane!
Trump nixes CNN, MS Whatever it is Now, and Politico from Air Force One for the Tennessee trip.
I hear Greyhound and Amtrak are running decent fares lately!
Source: The Independent / Writer:… pic.twitter.com/h8mKVDh7Md
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 26, 2026
Try being an impartial news outlet, then maybe you will get your PRIVILEGE back.
— Steve Baines (@stevebainz) September 26, 2026
“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,” Trump announced on Truth Social last week, with the impacted outlets rushing to a friendly judge to have the ban temporarily overruled.
On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order on the ban, ruling that access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico be reinstated while the legal fight plays out.
- Last call! Brewery offering free beer should Trump die likely to shutter after losing alcohol license - September 26, 2026
- Playing with fire: Hasan Piker sparks outrage after mocking fallen Navy SEALs - September 26, 2026
- New White House ad has Democrats foaming at the mouth - September 26, 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.