Skip to main content

- What We Do
- What we defend
- Have your rights been violated?
  If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIRE to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
  Submit a Case
- Make a difference
- Subscribe to FIRE Updates
  Stay up to date with FIRE's biggest cases and battles for free expression.
  Subscribe
- Take Action
  Across the nation, free speech rights are under attack. Join us in defending this essential quality of liberty. Make your voice heard and join a campaign.
  Protect Free Speech
- Resources
- College Free Speech Rankings
  This year FIRE and College Pulse surveyed nearly 63,000 students and ranked 261 U.S. colleges and universities. We use real student experiences, university policies, and speech controversies to determine the free speech rankings.
  Explore Rankings
- National Speech Index
  The National Speech Index tracks free speech sentiments in America. It is a quarterly survey component of America's Political Pulse from the Polarization Research Lab.
  Learn More
Colleges
News
Cases
Submit a Case
Newsletter

Table of Contents

FIRE statement on Trump banning news outlets from the White House

by

FIRE

September 19, 2026

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

On September 18, 2026, President Trump announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House due to their coverage.

The following statement can be attributed to Aaron Terr, FIRE's director of public advocacy:

When the White House opens its doors to the press, it must comply with the First Amendment. The president is as free as any other person to criticize media coverage. But he can’t ban outlets from the White House just because he doesn’t like their reporting or commentary. Press credentials aren’t a reward for loyalty to the government. A free, even adversarial, press is a sign of our country’s strength. The public deserves to hear about its government from independent voices, not just its leader’s loyalists and allies.

Recent Articles

Get the latest free speech news and analysis from FIRE.

ICE agents ring the front door of David Streever's house in Rochester, N.Y., on June 23, 2026.

VICTORY: Federal court says ICE threatened critic by serving him with 'Warning Notice' over an email

September 15, 2026

Rochester native David Streever filed the lawsuit after ICE retaliated against him for a critical email he sent during January's crackdown in Minnesota.

People wave German flag in support of AfD

Alternative for Germany wants criminal charges over ‘ethnic cleansing’ comment

September 16, 2026

AfD filed a criminal defamation complaint against Germany's chancellor over a speech. In democracies, politicians don't get to police criticism.

Flag in foreground of U.S. Capitol

Congress has a chance to help Americans defend their rights. It should take it.

September 16, 2026

FIRE endorses the Restoring Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Act, which would let Americans recover legal costs after successfully defending their rights.

University of Texas Rio Grande

Texas university keeps professor on suspension for over a year with no end in sight

September 14, 2026

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has kept a tenured professor off campus for 16 months with no hearing and no answer about whether he'll ever teach again.

Share

Share this selection via email