Trump Announces Ban on Key Media from White House

President Donald Trump has announced a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, intensifying his ongoing war against media outlets he labels as “fake news.” Despite Trump’s declaration on Truth Social, the specifics of how this ban would be implemented remain unclear. Legal precedents suggest such actions are likely to fail in the courts, as past attempts to remove press credentials, such as the case involving CNN’s Jim Acosta, were overturned legally.

Trump’s attack on these news organizations follows a history of legal disputes with media outlets, demanding multimillion-dollar settlements and challenging broadcast licenses of networks airing negative stories about his administration. His administration’s actions have sparked criticism from press freedom advocates, who view these moves as a blatant violation of the 1st Amendment.

Responding to questions at a press briefing, Trump expressed willingness to continue legal battles over restricting press access, disregarding the constitutional right to free speech. Nonetheless, CNN and MS NOW are reportedly continuing their coverage from the White House grounds, as the ban has yet to be enforced.

Press freedom groups, including the Freedom of the Press Foundation, have strongly condemned Trump’s threats, emphasizing the public’s right to independent news coverage. Fox News White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Jacqui Heinrich, criticized Trump’s actions as detrimental to the fundamental principles of an independent press.

The moves by Trump’s administration to intimidate and retaliate against news organizations he deems unfavorable reflect an ongoing pattern of authoritarian tactics and decrying critical media as obstacles to his preferred narratives.



(Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-09-18/trump-bans-cnn-msnow-politico-from-white-house)

Trump’s Unhinged Attack on Journalist Rachel Scott

Donald Trump, unwavering in his authoritarian tendencies, has once again displayed his contempt for the press by berating ABC reporter Rachel Scott over questions about his extravagant proposal to give every adult American $5,000 if Republicans win the midterm elections. This reckless promise is estimated to burden the U.S. economy with an additional $1.35 trillion debt, further demonstrating Trump’s disregard for fiscal responsibility.

At a sparsely attended Republican convention in Texas, Trump faced scrutiny for his so-called “Trump dividends,” an apparent bribe disguised as a reward for Americans enduring alleged hardships under the Biden administration. When Scott, a female journalist, attempted to question the feasibility and intent behind the staggering proposal, Trump lashed out, refusing to engage and instead opting to intimidate and belittle her.

This episode is consistent with Trump’s troubling history of hostility towards female journalists. His verbal attacks have previously targeted several women in the media, suggesting a pattern of misogynistic behavior. His aggressive reaction to Scott’s reasonable scrutiny exemplifies Trump’s deep-seated disdain for accountability and transparency.

Adding to this disturbing trend, Trump’s reactions to female journalists have included derogatory comments and insults, aimed at undermining their credibility and instilling fear. Scott’s encounter with Trump echoes past incidents where he labeled reporters as “rude” and “obnoxious,” perpetuating a culture of intimidation.

Rachel Scott’s confrontation with Trump reveals not only his volatile temperament but also highlights the broader implications of his authoritarian ambition. By attempting to silence critical voices, Trump threatens the principles of free press and democracy, signaling his relentless pursuit of power without accountability.



(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/unhinged-trump-lunges-female-reporter-092443686.html)

Trump’s $5K Checks Blasted as Impossible Bribe

Donald Trump recently expressed strong criticism towards Democrats for allegedly opposing his plan to distribute $5,000 checks to Americans if Republicans maintain control of Congress after the upcoming midterms. Trump has dubbed these checks as the “Trump Dividend,” claiming they are a reward for America’s success and economic growth, and blamed “Dumocrats” for hoping the initiative doesn’t materialize.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump boasted about his previous achievements, using them as proof that he delivers on his promises. He emphasized a previous financial gift to the military as an example of his ability to fulfill commitments similarly. Trump urged voters to support the Republican party to ensure such policies are enacted.

The promise of these $5,000 checks has been met with skepticism and criticism, with some labeling it akin to a cash-for-votes scheme. Critics argue that such a payout would require Congressional approval, a point Trump dismisses by implying autonomy in the decision-making process, despite ongoing national debt concerns.

Trump’s confrontation with ABC News’ Rachel Scott further highlighted his aggressive stance. When Scott questioned the feasibility of the $5,000 dividend amid a $40 trillion national debt, Trump lashed out, deeming her and her network as “the worst.” This exchange underscores Trump’s contentious relationship with the press and his intolerance for criticism.

This latest proposal fits Trump’s pattern of making grand promises while dismissing procedural and fiscal constraints. His insistence on distributing the dividend without Congressional approval raises questions about the practicality and legality of such initiatives within the framework of U.S. governance.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-slams-dumocrats-for-hoping-his-promised-5k-midterm-dividend-never-happens/)

Trump Attacks Haberman and NY Mag Over 9/11 Coverage

Donald Trump has launched a fierce attack on journalist Maggie Haberman and New York Magazine over their reporting on his whereabouts following the September 11 attacks. Trump used his Truth Social platform to demand retractions, dismissing their reports as false and labeling the journalists “liars and scoundrels.” He also insulted Haberman personally, calling her “unattractive both inside and out.”

Trump’s tirade is in response to reports questioning his claims about his presence at Ground Zero after 9/11. These reports suggest a lack of evidence for Trump’s assertion that he was actively involved in recovery efforts shortly after the attacks. Trump shared an archival video from September 13, 2001, showing him at the site, claiming to have workers help with the efforts.

The altercation with Haberman also touched on reports about Trump’s plans for the 25th anniversary of the attacks. According to previous discussions, there were claims that Trump sought to speak at the New York ceremony but was instead attending the Pentagon event after a schedule reorganization. The New York Times has refused to issue a retraction regarding these claims, suggesting it was yet another instance of Trump repudiating unfavorable media coverage.

Haberman and her colleagues’ reporting on Trump’s 9/11 plans indicated that his presence was expected at the Pentagon, not Ground Zero, aligning with a desire to speak at such events. Trump’s assault on media figures has been a significant part of his approach to media criticisms, often resulting in public confrontations.

In response to the ongoing scrutiny, Trump’s defense of his post-9/11 actions emphasizes his narrative but lacks tangible corroboration from witnesses or officials present at Ground Zero. This latest incident underscores Trump’s pattern of attacking media outlets that challenge his narrative, a tactic that has defined much of his public engagements.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-rages-at-maggie-haberman-and-new-york-mag-over-9-11-reports-liars-and-scoundrels/)

Donald Trump Slams Judge Deciding Kennedy Center’s Fate

Trump continues his campaign to rename and renovate the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, attacking the federal judge overseeing the legal challenge to his efforts. On Truth Social, Trump called the building “old and decrepit” and accused the judge of being “highly conflicted” for blocking his plan to inscribe his name on the structure. In May, a federal judge ruled that only Congress holds authority to rename the institution, which was built to honor President John F. Kennedy.

Trump violated federal law by adding his name to the building’s facade without authorization, then had the sign covered with a tarp in June to conceal the violation. Rather than comply with the court’s ruling, Trump’s Justice Department lawyers have argued that blocking his $250 million renovation project would render the building so unsafe it would require demolition, a threat designed to pressure Congress into allowing the rename. Trump’s allies are attempting to circumvent Congressional approval by proposing an inscription reading “Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, characterized Trump’s renovation and renaming scheme as “very childish” after an emergency court hearing held Thursday. Beatty invoked Trump’s controversial alterations to the White House as evidence of his destructive approach to historic institutions, stating “We’ve seen what he’s done, in the most embarrassing ways, to the White House.”

The Kennedy Center, a storied performing arts venue, has faced significant operational challenges since Trump assumed his chairmanship. Artists have withdrawn from performances, and ticket sales have declined sharply, though Trump blamed the downturn on the need for renovations rather than acknowledging his role in driving away performers and audiences.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/donald-trump-takes-a-shot-at-highly-conflicted-judge-deciding-the-decrepit-kennedy-centers-fate/) than acknowledging his role in driving away performers and audiences.

RFK Jr. Dismisses Measles Deaths, Attacks Shapiro

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, attacked media outlets and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro during a Fox News town hall, dismissing concerns about a measles outbreak that has reached a three-decade high with approximately 2,200 cases recorded by mid-July. Kennedy questioned whether two reported measles deaths in Lancaster County were actually caused by measles, accused Shapiro of exploiting the deaths for political gain, and claimed the governor’s response mirrored “the old Covid playbook” of “fear mongering.”

Kennedy claimed that in the past decade, only three measles deaths occurred in America and downplayed the disease relative to other health threats, stating that approximately 1.2 million deaths annually result from food-induced illness. He argued that media and politicians distract from chronic diseases caused by major food and pharmaceutical companies by focusing on infectious disease risks. When directly asked about the MMR vaccine’s recommendation, Kennedy acknowledged its effectiveness at 97 percent efficacy while maintaining his broader critique of public health messaging.

Kennedy attributed declining childhood vaccination rates worldwide to loss of faith in public health systems following the pandemic, framing vaccine hesitancy as a consequence of institutional mistrust rather than his own anti-vaccination advocacy. His response followed Pennsylvania officials’ announcement of measles deaths in the state and preceded a broader surge in preventable disease cases under his health department’s authority. The department previously eliminated routine childhood vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, bacterial meningitis, influenza, and other diseases from federal recommendations.

Kennedy’s remarks reflect a pattern of dismissing measles as a negligible public health concern while attacking the credibility of elected officials and journalists reporting disease outbreaks. His framing—that food and pharmaceutical industries pose greater threats than vaccine-preventable diseases—redirects responsibility away from vaccination policy changes that have coincided with measles resurgence. Administration health appointees have similarly avoided direct engagement with vaccine safety and efficacy questions, signaling alignment with Kennedy’s anti-vaccination positions across federal health leadership.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr-slams-the-media-and-demagogue-politicians-for-making-americans-terrified-of-measles/)

Trump Threatens FCC Punishment Against NBC’s Kristen Welker

President Trump attacked NBC’s Kristen Welker on Truth Social, threatening FCC action against her after she accurately reported mixed results from his primary endorsements. Trump claimed a 99-100% success rate on endorsements while demanding FCC Chairman Brendan Carr punish Welker and NBC for what he characterized as false reporting, despite documented endorsement losses in recent races.

Welker’s comments on NBC 4 Washington noted Trump’s endorsement track record included both wins and losses, citing his recent backing of Senator Darline Graham, who narrowly defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina. Graham’s primary victory was closer than anticipated by political experts, contradicting Trump’s claim of easy wins driven by his endorsement.

Trump escalated his attack by demanding the FCC investigate and punish NBC, calling the press “a disgrace to our nation” and framing accurate coverage of his endorsement record as a threat to the country. This follows Trump’s previous walkout from an NBC interview with Welker over her questioning of his claims, demonstrating a pattern of attacking journalists who report factually about his record.

The threat to weaponize federal regulatory authority against a news organization for unfavorable but accurate reporting undermines press freedom and reflects Trump’s broader use of government power against perceived opponents. Trump’s demand for FCC punishment represents direct executive pressure on the independent regulatory process to silence critical coverage.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-rages-at-nbcs-kristen-welker-after-she-reports-on-mixed-results-of-his-endorsements-threatens-fcc-punishment/)

Trump AI Video Shows Him Kicking Lake Ontario Sign

President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated video on Truth Social Saturday depicting himself kicking over a “Lake Ontario” sign and replacing it with a “Lake America” sign along the shoreline. The fabricated clip shows Trump performing his signature “YMCA” dance to the Village People song while celebrating the toppled sign, escalating his ongoing dispute with Canada over trade negotiations.

Trump had signed an executive order Thursday directing the Interior Department to officially rename Lake Ontario to Lake America in the Geographic Names Information System, following the collapse of trade talks between the two nations. Trump justified the move by claiming Canada has been “ripping us off for a long time on trade” and stated the U.S. defends Canada militarily “for nothing.”

The video represented Trump’s second AI-generated post about the renamed lake in as many days. Earlier Saturday, Trump posted another fabricated video depicting “mutant Canadian geese with machine guns” patrolling the lake, which he captioned “Donald Ducks,” with the Toronto skyline visible in the background.

The posts are part of Trump’s escalating campaign to rename shared geography with Canada, mirroring his earlier pattern of distributing AI-generated self-aggrandizing images on his social media platform. The move prompted mixed reactions, with critics viewing it as inflammatory while Trump supporters characterized it as effective mockery during the trade dispute.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-kicks-down-lake-ontario-sign-and-does-ymca-dance-in-wild-ai-video-ratcheting-up-feud-with-canada/)

Trump Ripped by Critics for NASA Speech: ‘What the F*ck?’

Trump arrived more than an hour late to a NASA ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday, where he was scheduled to honor four astronauts from the Artemis II lunar mission and award them the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. During the event, Trump announced plans for a new U.S. Space Academy to train Space Force members, engineers, and civilian spaceflight personnel.

Trump injected partisan politics into the nonpartisan ceremony, speaking extensively about Venezuela and Iran for over an hour while the audience sat in silence. Aaron Rupar documented that Trump spoke “to complete silence at the NASA center. Not a single person applauding or reacting to anything he said during his brazenly partisan speech.” Trump also requested that a lunar crater be named after him, mirroring the crew’s naming of a crater for astronaut Reid Wiseman’s late wife, drawing a blunt “No” from Rep. Ted Lieu.

Trump made a rambling, incoherent statement during the ceremony, claiming his “uncle who was a great scientist” and “loved space,” then saying “I guess we have genetically, we sort of, I believe in that stuff.” Biographer Seth Abramson responded directly to this moment with “What is this even supposed to be??? What the f*ck is he talking about???” Adam Kinzinger mockingly tweeted “BREAKING NOW: Trump believes in space,” while critics noted Trump falsely claimed the U.S. had no military space program before him, despite U.S. Space Command existing since the Reagan administration.

Trump falsely presented himself as the architect of American space capabilities, contradicting the expertise of the scientists and engineers present. NASA has been undergoing significant workforce reductions under Trump’s administration, cutting over 20 percent of its staff, yet he used the astronauts’ achievement as a platform for self-promotion and partisan rhetoric.

Social media reactions focused on Trump’s narcissism, cognitive decline, and disrespect for accomplished scientists. Commentator Joanne Carducci wrote that “Making incredibly accomplished people wait for him makes him feel ‘powerful,’ when it’s really just pathetic.” Critics characterized the event as one of the most awkward public ceremonies on record, with Trump’s alternate reality clashing with the actual expertise of NASA personnel forced to witness his incoherent, self-serving performance at an event designed to honor their colleagues’ achievements.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-ripped-by-critics-for-nasa-ceremony-speech-what-the-fck-is-he-talking-about/),’ when it’s really just pathetic.” Critics characterized the event as one of the most awkward public ceremonies on record, with Trump’s alternate reality clashing with the actual expertise of NASA personnel forced to witness his incoherent, self-serving performance at an event designed to honor their colleagues’ achievements.

Trump Attacks Haberman Over 9/11 Ground Zero Snub

President Donald Trump attacked New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on Friday via Truth Social, calling her “Maggot Hagerman” and branding her a “stalker” and “scammer” after the Times reported he plans to attend a Pentagon ceremony on September 11 rather than the Ground Zero memorial in Manhattan. Trump falsely denied that scheduling concerns or a desire to speak influenced his decision, claiming he “never even thought of” skipping Ground Zero and that he would “love not to speak” despite his track record of dominating public events.

The Times reported that Trump’s team had previously conducted advance visits to the Ground Zero site and communicated his intention to deliver remarks to organizers. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited elected officials from speaking at its annual commemoration for over a decade to maintain focus on victims and their families. Trump is instead expected to speak at the Pentagon ceremony, while Vice President JD Vance will represent the White House at Ground Zero.

Trump’s decision reflects logistical convenience: he is scheduled to depart for his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland the day after September 11, and flying from Joint Base Andrews in Washington causes fewer disruptions than departing from the New York area. The Times’ reporting directly contradicts Trump’s claim that he had not considered skipping the Manhattan ceremony or that external factors played no role in his choice.

Trump concluded his attack by demanding that Haberman, whose reporting on his administration has earned a Pulitzer Prize, be “forced to turn over any and all money that she’s made through her fake reporting” on him. Trump has previously attacked Haberman and journalist Jonathan Swan over their book documenting his second administration, revealing a pattern of retaliating against journalists whose work contradicts his public statements or depicts unflattering details of his conduct.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-erupts-at-nyts-maggot-haberman-in-epic-tirade-over-9-11-report/)

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