POLITICO Blocked From Traveling With Trump on Air Force One Amid Battle Over Media Access

The White House has recently barred POLITICO from joining President Donald Trump's entourage on Air Force One, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict over media access. According to White House correspondent Katherine Doyle, the administration was unable to secure a replacement, resulting in Politico not participating in the trip.

CBS, responsible for the TV pool coverage, maintained its role as the secondary pooler. Neither Politico nor CBS have offered comments about the ban. The White House maintains that traveling with the President aboard Air Force One is a privilege, not a right, emphasizing Trump's unprecedented accessibility and consistent access to the press.

The White House pool system involves a rotating group of journalists covering presidential events and providing updates to the broader press. Politico's exclusion from Air Force One is part of a broader effort to punish media organizations whose coverage the President finds unfavorable. Politico, CNN, and MS NOW were all banned from the White House on September 18, following claims that they published "fake news."

These outlets have since sued the administration, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment rights and due process. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the ban, which was in effect for 14 days. Despite the judge's order, the White House has continued to block Politico from traveling on Air Force One, a decision that has been criticized by the affected outlets' lawyers.