White House Blocks POLITICO from Air Force One Amid Media Access Dispute

The White House blocked POLITICO from boarding Air Force One on Monday, escalating a ongoing dispute over media access to President Donald Trump. The move left no primary print pooler for Trump’s trip to Nebraska for a campaign rally, with Washington Post reporter Katherine Doyle serving as the secondary pooler. CBS, designated for the TV pool, shared its notes with other news organizations, but neither CBS nor any other outlet replaced POLITICO.

A White House official defended the decision, stating that traveling with the president on Air Force One is a privilege, not a right, and claimed Trump is ‘the most accessible President in American history.’ POLITICO confirmed it was barred from the travel pool, while the White House TV pool resumed coverage after journalists from previously banned outlets regained access to the White House grounds.

This incident is part of a broader conflict, as Trump previously banned POLITICO, CNN, and MS NOW from the White House, alleging they published ‘FAKE NEWS.’ A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the ban on Sept. 24, ordering Trump to restore access. However, disputes over pool duties persist, with the outlets suing to block the ban until their case is resolved. Judge Timothy J. Kelly is set to hear their request for an extended block on Thursday.

The White House has previously blocked CNN from Air Force One, preventing it from fulfilling its TV pool duties. The TV press pool’s coverage of Trump has been uncertain, with decisions made on a day-by-day basis amid ongoing legal battles.