Benny Johnson
Role at the time: Political commentator and podcaster, in a social-media statement reported by The New York Times
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Johnson celebrated the decision and argued that excluding the outlets from White House access did not infringe their ability to report.
“No one is infringing on their ability to do reporting.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Live updates: CNN, Politico and MS NOW reporters barred from White House · The New York TimesLive coverage updated through September 19, 2026, 5:48 PM ET; reaction roundup and legal-challenge updates
The Times's live report attributes statements to White House communications director Steven Cheung, Senator Bernie Sanders and commentator Benny Johnson while covering enforcement of the ban.
Why we used this label
In the reported context, Johnson celebrates the decision and minimizes its effect by arguing that the outlets remain able to report, which excuses the exclusion.