Politics
White House bars CNN from flying with Trump on Air Force One
September 26, 2026 at 05:56 AM · Updated 20d ago
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 9 hours
The White House has barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One with President Donald Trump for his Saturday trip to Tennessee.
- CNN was replaced on the presidential jet by conservative outlet Real America's Voice News for the trip to a college football game in Knoxville.
- The move follows last week's White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which the outlets challenged in a lawsuit citing First Amendment rights.
- Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily struck down the ban Thursday, stating the government offered no support showing the reporting damaged national security.
- Judge Kelly's ruling applied only to White House grounds access, not presidential travel, leaving the White House free to pick Air Force One passengers.
- CNN and MSNBC journalists were still denied entry to a White House state dinner Thursday before network coverage resumed Friday.
- Four other network pool members suspended coverage in solidarity with the banned outlets before resuming after the judge's ruling.



