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CNN Left Off Air Force One as White House Changes Media Access

September 26, 2026

CNN was left off the media list for President Donald Trump’s September 26 trip aboard Air Force One, with the White House replacing the network’s planned position with Real America’s Voice News, according to the Associated Press. The move comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and several news organizations over access to the White House and presidential events.

CNN Replaced for Presidential Trip

The media slot had traditionally been assigned to a member of the U.S. television network pool, which rotates coverage of presidential events among major broadcasters. AP reported that Real America’s Voice was assigned the position previously expected to go to CNN for Trump’s trip to Knoxville, Tennessee.

The development followed the administration's earlier decision to restrict access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. A federal judge subsequently issued a temporary order blocking aspects of the White House's restrictions, although the ruling did not directly address access to Air Force One.

Dispute Over White House Media Access

The disagreement has also affected the White House television press pool. AP reported that the pool temporarily stopped operating after CNN was prevented from carrying out an assigned pool duty, with the other participating broadcasters declining to provide replacement coverage. The pool later resumed operations during Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have challenged the administration's restrictions in federal court, arguing that the actions violate constitutional protections. The White House has defended its authority to determine access and has argued that the outlets can continue reporting from outside the White House complex.

Legal and Constitutional Questions Continue

The dispute has raised broader questions about how much control a presidential administration can exercise over access to limited-capacity spaces such as Air Force One and the White House press pool.

Legal experts cited by Reuters have said that restrictions based on a news organization's viewpoint could face constitutional challenges, while also noting that presidents have greater discretion over tightly controlled spaces where physical capacity is limited.

The latest change therefore represents another development in the ongoing legal and administrative dispute over presidential media access. Further court proceedings and White House decisions are expected to determine how the arrangement evolves.

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