President Donald Trump’s latest attack on press freedom came wth a sharp rebuke — from one of his favorite law professors.
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On Friday, Trump announced he would be banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House completely, with the possibility of more outlets to follow. All three outlets have done extensive reporting on the administration, including some stories that have embarrassed the president and his inner circle.
But George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley took to X to condemn the order, warning it will invite legal problems for the administration.
“Trump just reaffirmed his intention to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House,” wrote Turley, a regular Fox News commentator who has been sympathetic to Trump on a number of other issues. “Such a move would be an assault on long-honored principles of a free press. I have often joined in the criticism over the bias of these outlets, but barring disfavored media from the White House is a terrible precedent and practice.”
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“Such a move would raise serious constitutional questions and undermine the country’s long-standing position as a voice for the free press. It is hard for the United States to advocate for press rights globally when it is banning disfavored outlets,” wrote Turley. “The President just said that he does not believe that courts should not allow media to publish fake news. A court injunction on such reporting would constitute either prior restraint or censorship or both. It would be viewed as a fundamental violation of the First Amendment.”
Trump has frequently attacked all three outlets in the past, baselessly accusing them of pushing fake news.
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Trump just reaffirmed his intention to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House. Such a move would be an assault on long-honored principles of a free press. I have often joined in the criticism over the bias of these outlets, but barring disfavored media from the White…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) September 18, 2026
