White House excludes CNN journalists from traveling with Donald Trump aboard Air Force One

The White House barred CNN journalists from traveling with Donald Trump aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One during a trip scheduled for Saturday in Tennessee. The decision was reported Friday by the Washington Post, which cited two people familiar with the situation.

The reasons for the exclusion were not specified. The measure comes approximately one week after a similar decision and is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and several media outlets.

On September 18, the US president announced the blocking, “effective immediately,” of access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, accusing the outlets of disseminating “false information.” The three institutions challenged the decision in court, arguing that it violated the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press.

Federal Judge Timothy Kelly of Washington ruled in their favor. He determined that the journalists’ rights had been violated because the sanction was imposed without prior notice, and ordered the government to immediately return their press credentials. The order is valid for two weeks, until further instructions are issued or it expires.