Barrasso says Trump’s ban does not violate the Constitution
John BarrassoU.S. senator from Wyoming, speaking on NBC News’s Meet the Press.
Asked whether Trump’s exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters violated the Constitution, Sen. John Barrasso said no and argued that the press must report fairly. He also said he respects freedom of the press and compared the action to Trump’s earlier social-media bans.
“No, I believe the press has an obligation to report fairly.”
Original video
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
On Friday, September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that, "effective immediately, I am banning" CNN, MS NOW and Politico "from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" About an hour later, in the Oval Office, he said no particular story prompted the decision, that he does not want the outlets "in my office," and that "somebody has a right to keep them away" if outlets write false stories. The three outlets and press-freedom groups oppose the exclusion, citing constitutional protection for the press, and the White House Correspondents' Association said it "stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO." On Saturday, September 19, MS NOW, CNN and Politico said their White House reporters were refused entry and had press passes confiscated; the White House referred questions to Trump's earlier remarks. The dispute is over whether President Trump should exclude named news organizations from White House access over what they report.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
NBC’s original clip captures Barrasso responding to a question about Trump’s exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico. NBC’s companion report transcribes the exchange.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
NBC News reports and transcribes Barrasso’s Meet the Press answer, including his qualification that the press is constitutionally protected and his comparison to Trump’s social-media bans.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
NBC reports that Barrasso was asked directly whether Trump had violated the Constitution by banning reporters from the three outlets.
After the quotation
When pressed about whether he agreed with the ban, Barrasso said the press is constitutionally protected but repeated that it has an obligation to report fairly and said Trump did not see that happening.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Barrasso’s direct no-answer to the constitutional question and his fairness rationale defend that action, while his acknowledgment of press freedom supplies context.
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- Donald Trump
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- Barrasso says Trump’s ban does not violate the Constitution
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Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Barrasso says Trump’s ban does not violate the Constitution". First published: 2026-09-21. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1300-asked-whether-trump-s-exclusion-of-cnn-ms