BREAKING: Trump WH Refusing to Allow Politico on Air Force One

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

The White House has barred Politico from Air Force One, meaning the outlet can’t fulfill its press corps duties.

Politico had been slated to be the print pool representative for Monday. Since only a small group of reporters travel with the president, Politico was responsible for emailing a dispatch to other news outlets from aboard the plane.

It wasn’t clear who would take over those duties.

President Donald Trump has already barred CNN from reporting aboard the presidential plane when it was its turn to represent the TV pool. Trump replaced CNN with MAGA outlets LindellTV and Real America’s Voice on recent flights.

Trump announced on September 18 that he was banning Politico, CNN and MS NOW from the White House, due to what he called their “fake news” reporting — essentially reporting that was unflattering to the president and his administration. Legal experts have called the move “unconstitutional” for violating the First Amendment right to press freedoms. A judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban and restored the reporters’ access.

Trump wrote at the time on Truth Social, “Why should perpetrators of FAKE NEWS … be allowed access to a very sacred place, the White House? Despite my big Election Win, almost 100% of ‘TRUMP’ coverage is negative, and has been for years!”

Judge Timothy J. Kelly is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday on whether to extend the block on Trump’s ban before a potential trial.

“The law is absolutely clear. The harm to our clients, the First Amendment, and the public as a whole is profound,” said Ted Boutrous, the attorney for all three outlets. “It is critical that the White House is enjoined to keep this unconstitutional ban on the free press out of commission.”

Trump has argued that Air Force One is different from White House reporting because of the tight space onboard that necessitates regulation.

Neither CNN nor Politico has issued formal comments on the AFO ban.

This is a breaking story and has been updated.

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