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Trump Blocks CNN From Air Force One Amid Press Pool Dispute
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump escalated his ongoing dispute with news outlets by blocking CNN from traveling with him on Air Force One for his trip to Tennessee this weekend.
The White House press pool, which includes Fox News, had suspended its coverage of Trump in response to the president's actions.
In a tweet on Truth Social, Trump defended his decision, stating, 'Why should perpetrators of FAKE NEWS, like CNN and MSDNC, be allowed access to a very sacred place, the White House?
The dispute began last week when Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the White House, prompting the outlets to file a lawsuit.
A federal judge ordered the White House to temporarily and immediately restore access to the banned outlets on Thursday, but Trump has continued to restrict CNN’s access.
The AP’s lawsuit over the press ban is ongoing, and the White House has faced criticism for its unprecedented hostility toward the press.
The White House press corps traditionally plays a pivotal role in providing unbiased coverage of the president’s activities, but Trump’s actions have disrupted this longstanding practice.
In the meantime, the situation in the Middle East has escalated, with US forces reportedly disabling two Iran-linked oil tankers and destroying a third in the Gulf of Oman.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait’s importance has grown as Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially adding upward pressure on global fuel prices.
What this adds
The White House’s actions have been unprecedented in their hostility toward the press, with little historical precedent for such measures.
Background
President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the White House, prompting the outlets to file a lawsuit on Monday.
What's confirmed
- The White House press pool, which includes Fox News, had suspended its coverage of Trump in response to the president's actions.
- In a tweet on Truth Social, Trump defended his decision, stating, 'Why should perpetrators of FAKE NEWS, like CNN and MSDNC, be allowed access to a very sacred place, the White House?
- The dispute began last week when Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the White House, prompting the outlets to file a lawsuit.
- A federal judge ordered the White House to temporarily and immediately restore access to the banned outlets on Thursday, but Trump has continued to restrict CNN’s access.
- The AP’s lawsuit over the press ban is ongoing, and the White House has faced criticism for its unprecedented hostility toward the press.
- The White House press corps traditionally plays a pivotal role in providing unbiased coverage of the president’s activities, but Trump’s actions have disrupted this longstanding practice.
- In the meantime, the situation in the Middle East has escalated, with US forces reportedly disabling two Iran-linked oil tankers and destroying a third in the Gulf of Oman.
- The Bab al-Mandeb strait’s importance has grown as Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially adding upward pressure on global fuel prices.
What's still developing
- According to the US military, American forces “permanently disabled” two Iran-linked oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island, and “completely destroyed” a third in the Gulf of Oman.
- US Central Command said Iranian forces had earlier targeted an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.
- Iran has sought greater control over shipping through the waterway, while US forces have helped vessels use a southern route through Omani waters.
- Days later, speaking while on a trip to Dublin, Trump told reporters that the Houthis themselves had been in contact, assuring his administration they had no wish to fight US forces.
- In the last few days, Iran-backed Houthi fighters have seized control of the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands and the Red Sea port city of Mocha, tightening the group’s grip on one of the world’s key energy routes in the face of resistance from Yemen’s government-aligned forces.
- The Bab al-Mandeb strait’s importance has only grown since Iran, responding to the US and Israeli attacks, proved itself able to significantly restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with some analysts warning this latest advance stands to add further upward pressure on fuel prices globally.
- This comes as the fighting between the US and Iran escalates, with Washington denying that Iran has struck two of its destroyers, while CENTCOM claims to have destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers.
- President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on the press on Saturday morning, a day after escalating his standoff with news outlets by blocking CNN from traveling with him on Air Force One as he travels to Tennessee this weekend.
- The AP’s lawsuit over the press ban is ongoing, and a federal appeals court has said that some aspects of the ban can stand for now.
- Unhappy about straightforward coverage of his administration, his sagging approval rating, and the impact of his policies, he has tried to freeze out news outlets that don’t deliver the coverage he wants, upending the traditional role of the White House press corps at a pivotal moment, with just over five weeks to go before the midterm elections.
- But the president nevertheless dug in and banned CNN from Air Force One for his trip to attend the Tennessee-Texas college football game, preventing the network from fulfilling its TV pool responsibilities.
- There has been little precedent for such naked hostility toward the press from a president.