Waltz says Trump can bar reporters from White House

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told reporters on Sunday that President Donald Trump is “absolutely within his rights” to bar CNN, Politico and MS NOW reporters from the White House. Waltz said the ban was intended to prevent journalists who “are not behaving in good faith” from accessing the White House, adding that the president has the authority to limit media coverage to protect government operations.

The decision follows a broader trend of the Trump administration tightening press access, citing concerns over “disinformation” and “unverified claims.” The ambassador’s comments were made in a briefing to a group of journalists, where he reiterated that the president’s power to restrict coverage is protected under the Constitution and that the administration will continue to enforce such limits where it deems necessary.

White House officials have not issued a formal statement on the ban, but the move underscores ongoing tensions between the administration and the mainstream media. The restriction applies specifically to the three outlets mentioned, with the administration maintaining that the policy is a lawful exercise of executive authority to safeguard the integrity of official communications.