Politico Denied Access to Air Force One in Ongoing Media Battle

The White House denied Politico access to Air Force One on Monday, preventing the news outlet from fulfilling its print pool duties as President Donald Trump traveled to Nebraska for a campaign rally. This action represents the latest development in a sustained dispute between the Trump administration and several media organizations over access.

Washington Post reporter Katherine Doyle, who was part of the White House pool, reported that Politico, the designated primary print pooler for the trip, was blocked. Due to the inability to find a replacement, Doyle served as the secondary pooler, sharing updates with other news organizations. CBS, representing the TV pool, also shared its notes, with CBS News emphasizing that neither network was substituting for Politico.

A White House official stated that traveling aboard Air Force One is a "privilege, not a right," while asserting that Trump is "the most accessible President in American history" and will continue to provide significant press access. The White House pool system is designed to allow a rotating group of journalists to cover presidential events and share information broadly, ensuring wider coverage despite space limitations.

Politico's exclusion follows a broader pattern of actions against media outlets. On September 18, Trump announced bans on Politico, CNN, and MS NOW from the White House, citing repeated publication of "FAKE NEWS." Journalists from these outlets were subsequently denied entry and had their press credentials revoked.

In response to these bans, Politico, CNN, and MS NOW filed a lawsuit on September 21, arguing that the administration's actions violated their First Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights. The broadcast networks comprising the White House TV pool temporarily suspended their coverage in solidarity.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on September 24, mandating the restoration of access for the three outlets and finding that the ban likely violated their constitutional due process rights. Journalists from the affected organizations were subsequently readmitted to the White House.

However, access for pool duties has remained contentious. The White House had previously blocked CNN from traveling on Air Force One. In response to CNN's exclusion and Politico's subsequent denial, the outlets sought a federal judge's order to prevent further bans until their lawsuit is resolved, alleging that the administration was violating the existing restraining order with unpredictable and inconsistent actions.

Lawyers for the outlets argued that the White House's actions indicated an intent to "immediately reinstitute a complete ban" if given the opportunity. A hearing was scheduled before Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington on the outlets' request to extend the order against the administration.

While the TV press pool has resumed coverage of Trump following the outlets' return to the White House grounds, decisions regarding presidential air travel coverage are reportedly being made on a daily basis amidst the ongoing uncertainty surrounding media access.