In a controversial move, the White House has barred Politico from accompanying President Donald Trump on Air Force One during his campaign trip to Nebraska. This decision marks a continuation of the administration’s increasingly combative stance toward media outlets, having previously excluded CNN from similar events last week.
The recent restrictions come amidst an ongoing legal dispute involving several news organizations, including Politico, which have challenged the administration’s media access policies. A White House official clarified that while many outlets typically receive access to cover presidential events, flying on Air Force One is considered a privilege that can be revoked at the administration’s discretion.
CNN initially broke the news of Politico’s exclusion, highlighting the broader implications of the administration’s actions. Last month, Trump openly criticized multiple news outlets, calling their reporting “FAKE NEWS!” and subsequently enforced a ban that included CNN, Politico, and MS NOW. A federal judge had temporarily restored access to the White House grounds for these outlets, though the order did not extend to travel with the president.
Politico’s representative confirmed the travel exclusion but refrained from further comment. Meanwhile, other networks in the press pool, including Fox News, ABC, CBS, and NBC, have shown solidarity by refusing to take on pool duties since the CNN ban, raising concerns about the implications of such media restrictions.
As the White House press corps operates with various pools for print, radio, still photography, and television, CBS News has announced it will not replace Politico in the print pool, opting instead to share its TV pool notes with the White House Correspondents’ Association. This situation reflects the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the media, as organizations rally to support each other in challenging the limitations imposed on their ability to report.
Photo credit: Win McNamee
