The White House is escalating its fight with news organizations by blocking Politico from Air Force One, a move that could give the outlets fresh ammunition ahead of a court hearing Thursday.
Politico was scheduled to serve as the print representative in Monday’s traveling press pool, CNN’s Brian Stelter reported.
“Scoop: The White House is refusing to allow Politico on Air Force One today, which means the news outlet cannot fulfill its press corps pool responsibilities,” Stelter wrote on X.
The exclusion follows repeated instances of CNN being barred on its assigned pool days.
“Now, on the day it was Politico’s turn to be the print pool representative, Politico has been barred as well,” Stelter said. He added that Monday’s action by the Trump administration “will likely be incorporated into the next legal filing by CNN, MS NOW and Politico.”
The outlets sued after President Donald Trump announced he was banning them from the White House. A federal judge subsequently restored their press badges.
But the White House now appears to be justifying the new restrictions by arguing that access to the White House complex is different from access to tight spaces like Air Force One, according to Stelter.
“The law is absolutely clear,” said Ted Boutrous, the attorney representing the outlets. “The harm to our clients, the First Amendment, and the public as a whole is profound.”
He added that it was “critical that the White House is enjoined to keep this unconstitutional ban on the free press out of commission.”
The White House offered Politico’s seat to other publications, but several declined, CNN reported Monday.
Scoop: The White House is refusing to allow Politico on Air Force One today, which means the news outlet cannot fulfill its press corps pool responsibilities. https://t.co/NNiK296TLJ — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 5, 2026
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