White House Bars CNN From Air Force One Trip to Tennessee

Politics23 sourcesSep 27, 2026

Leans leftFactual rigor 52/100

The Story

President Donald Trump responded to a reporter's question about barring CNN from his plane to Tennessee, stating, "I want real news, not fake news, like you."

The White House barred CNN from traveling with President Donald Trump on Air Force One for a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, to attend a college football game. CNN, a member of the US network video pool, had been scheduled to fly aboard the president's plane. White House guidance issued Friday night instead listed Real America's Voice and LindellTV, a conservative outlet, as replacements.

This move is the latest in an ongoing dispute between the White House and certain media outlets. Last week, Trump banned CNN, Politico, and MS NOW journalists from the White House, accusing them of writing fiction or lies. A federal judge temporarily struck down that ban in an overnight ruling early Thursday, September 25, 2026, stating that barring news outlets from the White House was likely unconstitutional.

However, the judge's decision dealt with hard passes to the White House grounds and did not directly address pool duties or Air Force One travel.

What they agree on

The White House barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One for President Donald Trump's trip to Tennessee on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
CNN is a member of the US network video pool, which rotates duties for covering the president.
The White House replaced CNN in the pool coverage for the trip with Real America's Voice and LindellTV.
This action follows a federal judge's temporary ruling on Thursday, September 25, 2026, that blocking CNN and other outlets from the White House was likely unconstitutional.
President Trump has publicly criticized CNN and other media outlets, labeling them "fake news."

Where they split

RedState and Mediaite focus on Trump's direct confrontation with a reporter and his strong criticism of CNN, including specific quotes from his exchange.
MyJoyOnline and The Independent (UK) emphasize the broader context of the White House's battle with the media and the legal actions pursued by banned outlets.
Real America's Voice (RAV) directly refutes CNN's claim that no outlet replaced them for pool coverage, stating RAV was tapped and provided a public feed, a detail highlighted by RedState.
The Daily Beast and The New York Times provide more details about the specific individuals traveling with Trump on Air Force One, such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Senator Marsha Blackburn.