Here’s What Pope Leo Thinks About Trump’s White House Press Ban

Pope Leo XIV arrives at Paris Orly Airport for a four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Yoan Valat/Pool Photo via AP)

His Holiness has weighed in on President Donald Trump’s White House press ban.

Traveling to France for a four-day visit, Pope Leo XIV addressed the headline-making ban after a CNN reporter asked for his thoughts.

Trump abruptly barred the cable network, MS NOW and Politico from the White House on Sept. 18, resulting in a subsequent and still unresolved television boycott by the networks when CNN was barred from carrying out its television duties in the White House press pool.

The pontiff had nothing but open arms for the media traveling with him, according to the Associated Press.

“I am very happy that here, you are all welcome,” he said.

He then emphasized the importance of having good media coverage  “all the way around, for everyone,” the outlet noted.

Leo was expected to address the dangers of artificial intelligence during the trip, where he is slated to speak at UNESCO headquarters. On Friday night, he will oversee a massive youth vigil in Paris.

The White House press ban was dramatically paused by a Trump-appointed judge just after midnight on Thursday, leading to a contentious morning ahead of a state visit to Washington, D.C., from Chinese leader Xi Jingping.

While Judge Timothy Kelly smacked down the Trump administration’s justifications for the ban — including that reporting from the three new organizations was endangering national security — the White House did not swiftly comply with Kelly’s order to restore access.

Reporters for all three outlets dramatically took to the air or social media to explain they were unable to enter the White House grounds on Thursday, saying their press badges were confiscated.

Hours later, the journalists were finally able to enter after lawyers for the new outlets raced to court to demand an emergency hearing in the case.

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