CNN says a ban would be "an illegal assault" on its constitutionally protected right to report
News network, in a statement posted by CNN Communications and reported in its own story
“Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Post from CNN's communications account introducing the statement, which is attached as an image with no alt text; the wording used here is taken from CNN's own story of the same day. Created 20:31:14 UTC on September 18, 2026.
Reporting
About this source
CNN Business story first published 3:40 PM EDT on September 18, 2026 and last modified 10:12 PM EDT (page metadata), read in full on cnn.com. CNN is one of the three outlets, so its account of its own staff is an outlet's account.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
MS NOW's own news story, with page metadata showing publication at 11:15 AM EDT and last modification at 1:06 PM EDT Saturday (edits between 11:37 AM and 1:06 PM EDT changed only sidebar items). The page was rewritten during the day: the browser title still reads 'MS NOW journalists denied entry to White House on day after Trump bans them in First Amendment test' while the current headline names all three outlets. MS NOW is a party; the story carries its spokesperson statement. The story calls the second MS NOW staff member a cameraman, where CNN and AP call the person a photographer.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
CNN issued the statement at about 4:31 PM EDT on September 18, after Trump's post and after his Oval Office event had begun. CNN described the ban as one Trump "threatened", and its reporters were still working at the White House that evening.
After the quotation
On September 19, after MS NOW journalists were denied entry, CNN said in a further statement that it would keep covering the government "regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House".
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case's fixed reference point is President Trump's announcement on September 18, 2026 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are banned from the White House because of their coverage, as reaffirmed in the Oval Office that afternoon. CNN rejects the announced exclusion, calling it, if carried out, an illegal assault on a constitutional right. The closest competing label is mixed_or_conditional, because the sentence begins "Should the ban ... go ahead". That loses because the condition concerns implementation of the announcement; CNN states no support for the act under any condition.
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- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump
Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full caseMS NOW
“MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”Read statement
The White House
“The White House declined to comment further Saturday, referring NBC News to Trump’s previous comments.”Read statement
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
“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.”Read statement