Trump waves from air force noe

KLZ News — The White House has removed CNN from the television press pool scheduled to accompany President Donald Trump during a Thursday trip to Texas and Oklahoma, extending an ongoing dispute between the administration and several national news organizations.

CNN had been designated for the assignment in a press rotation released Sunday but was absent from the White House guidance subsequently issued for the trip.

Trump is scheduled to visit a truck manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, before traveling to Durant, Oklahoma.

The White House removes CNN from the press pool that’s set to cover a trip by President Trump, escalating a feud with the cable network after a federal judge blocked the administration’s push to restrict its media access. https://t.co/gQUqVFwJki

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 1, 2026

https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

A Continuing Fight Over Access

The latest decision comes during a broader legal fight involving CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

Trump announced restrictions on the three organizations in September, accusing them of producing unfair or inaccurate coverage.

The news organizations challenged the restrictions in federal court, arguing the government was retaliating against them because of their journalism and violating constitutional protections involving press access and due process.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly subsequently issued a temporary restraining order restoring their access to White House grounds while the litigation proceeds.

Kelly’s ruling focused on White House credentials and access to the grounds. It did not specifically require the administration to assign CNN to a particular traveling press-pool position aboard Air Force One.

Why the Pool Matters

The presidential press pool is a rotating group of reporters and camera crews that travels with the president when accommodating the entire White House press corps is impractical.

The pool produces reporting, photographs and video that are then shared with other news organizations.

That makes assignments particularly important during travel, where access to the president can be physically limited.

CNN had been scheduled to provide television pool coverage for Thursday’s trip before being removed.

The network was also prevented from traveling aboard Air Force One during Trump’s trip to Tennessee the previous weekend.

Trump is trying to hold an event at the White House, but there’s no audio because the entire press pool walked out after his unconstitutional press ban.

He wants to be a dictator so bad he banned the press without realizing it would silence his own voice! pic.twitter.com/FWIKtfIB5q https://t.co/FObXD1FIqn

— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) September 21, 2026

https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

Legal Arguments Continue

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked the federal court to extend protections while their lawsuit proceeds.

The outlets contend that restricting their access because of editorial decisions or unfavorable coverage violates constitutional protections.

The administration has defended its authority to control access and has sharply criticized the organizations’ reporting.

The latest disagreement is therefore likely to turn in part on the distinction between a reporter’s general White House credential and participation in a specific, limited-capacity presidential travel pool.

That distinction could become increasingly important as the court case moves forward.

For now, CNN retains the White House access provided under the temporary court order, while its ability to participate in particular presidential travel assignments remains contested.