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source_url: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-lashes-out-at-boycott-after-media-ban-cnn-politico-ms-now-12486758
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President Donald Trump has lashed out at media networks boycotting the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the ongoing fallout from his White House media ban.
Last week, the White House barred journalists from CNN, Politico and MS NOW from entering the complex after Trump accused them of publishing "fake news" and later argued that their reporting was a risk to national security. Major U.S. outlets, including Fox News, suspended their pool coverage in response to the ban.
Following the boycott, Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117327988960070739) on Truth Social on Thursday: "CNN and MSDNC's Ratings have dropped considerably. The primary reason is NO CREDIBILITY! They only write badly about a man who won the Election IN A GIANT LANDSLIDE, winning all 7 Swing States, the Popular Vote, and 86% of the Counties, etc., and whose Popularity has grown because of the unprecedented SUCCESS our Country is having on both the World Stage, and at home."
In his post, Trump referred to MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, as MSDNC—blending the outlet's previous name with the acronym for the Democratic National Committee.
He continued: "CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping, and his beautiful wife, Madam Peng. The event was magnificent—Actually made for Television but, because they're Fake News, and because they knew how good it would be, they didn't want credit to be given to 'TRUMP,' they refused to be there. That's why they have such poor Ratings."
Early on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Timothy James Kelly issued an order preventing the enforcement of the White House's ban amid a [pending legal challenge](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-administration-sued-cnn-politico-ms-now-banned-from-white-house-12466633) from the three news outlets.
After the White House refused to let a CNN reporter cover Xi's state dinner on Thursday evening, no major U.S. networks televised the event.
What To Know About Trump’s Media Ban
Trump announced the media ban on Truth Social last Friday, [saying](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117293599348325006) CNN, MS NOW and Politico would not be permitted at the White House as a "result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!"
"Media Outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America," Trump added.
The ban signals an escalation in Trump's [war against "fake news,"](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shuts-down-female-reporter-timeline-clashes-12429812) which he has railed against for more than a decade.
Critics of the widely condemned media ban include former President Barack Obama, who said at a Colgate University event in New York the day Trump announced the ban, "We have not developed the kind of understanding of what democracy requires."
Vice President JD Vance addressed the ban while speaking with Fox News earlier this week, in a clip shared by the White House's Rapid Response account on X.
"He's not banning media outlets," Vance said. "What he's doing is saying, 'We're not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda.'"
In the wake of the ban, there has been no TV footage of Trump at key events this week, including [his arrival in New York](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-un-speech-general-assembly-12471363) to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump appeared on television [following a meeting](https://www.newsweek.com/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-trump-wrath-comments-meeting-timeline-12469175) with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday.
Mamdani said he had told the president all members of the media would be welcome at the press conference.
"It's interesting because they said they were going to boycott me," Trump said. "But they never boycott me, so I wasn't very worried about that. Look at all the press."
Following the ban, the White House [launched its own streaming channel](https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-launches-trump-tv-amid-media-ban-what-we-know-12470372), Trump TV.
On September 19, a CNN spokesperson said in a statement to Newsweek: "CNN's mission to report on the U.S. government will continue, regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism."
"We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government, and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right," the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Politico said in a statement to Newsweek on September 18 that it intended to "fairly report" on Trump, as well as future White House administrations, adding, "We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them."
MS NOW meanwhile said in a statement posted on X, "The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars."
Legal Challenge Against Trump’s Media Ban
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed a First Amendment lawsuit in a bid to have their access to the White House restored.
"This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes," the three networks said in a joint statement on Monday morning.
"Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference," the statement continued.
The filing, reviewed by Newsweek, says the ban "could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles."
It describes the ban as "unconstitutional" and alleges that it violates the Due Process Clause.
Following the filing, Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117308890736529824) on Truth Social: "The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.
"It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!"
Even after Kelly issued a temporary restraining order, journalists from the three outlets reported being denied access when they tried to enter the White House on Thursday morning.
Later that day, reporters who had initially been denied entry [returned to their media tents](https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-blocks-reporters-entering-despite-court-order-media-ban-donald-trump-12482937) about 30 minutes before the court deadline.
Some coverage resumed on Thursday, prior to the president's Truth Social post.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have until Monday to file a motion for a preliminary injunction against the ban, with the government given until October 2 to respond.
The initial restraining order is set to lapse early the following week.
Trump’s Meeting With Xi Jinping: Key Takeaways
The highly anticipated summit at the White House between Trump and Xi marked the two leaders' second meeting this year, reciprocating [Trump's state visit to China](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-relegated-to-sidebar-of-chinas-biggest-english-newspaper-11945038) in May.
It is the Chinese leader's second state visit to the U.S., with his first occurring in 2015.
After a red-carpet welcome and military honors, Xi said the U.S. and China should be focused on shared interests and not their long-standing disputes.
Xi said he and Trump had developed a "personal rapport" over years of meetings, calling for deeper engagement between the rival powers.
The two discussed several of the world's most pressing security issues in their meeting, according to Chinese state media.
Discussions included Iran, Russia's war in Ukraine, tensions on the Korean Peninsula and artificial intelligence.
Xi has said that healthy competition [between Washington and Beijing](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-faces-biggest-taco-test-yet-at-xi-summit-12469595) should be "kept within bounds" and that the two countries' militaries could "maintain regular dialogue" despite ongoing strategic tensions.
As part of diplomacy efforts, Xi said two new pandas—male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang—would arrive at a Zoo in Atlanta.
Trump has framed their relationship in a historical context and recalled the countries' alliance during the Second World War.
Xi is scheduled to return to China on September 25.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: [Matthew Robinson](mailto:m.robinson@newsweek.com) and [Shakeema Edwards](mailto:s.edwards@newsweek.com).