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Defense Secretary Hegseth backs White House media ban on three outlets

Pete Hegseth endorsed President Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, according to The Hill.

Updated Sep 29, 2026 · 18:58 UTC132 reports

Latest update: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endorsed President Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.

The short version

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed support for President Donald Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.[The Hill]
  • Hegseth accused the affected news outlets of endangering military personnel through leaks and false reporting.[The Hill]
  • CNN and Politico criticized the restriction and pledged to defend their First Amendment rights.[The Hill]
  • Critics and press freedom advocates argue the actions restrict independent journalism, while some Fox News contributors warned the move sets a dangerous precedent.[The Hill]

Key facts

  • Defense Secretary Hegseth publicly supported President Trump's decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.[The Hill]
  • Hegseth alleged that the target outlets published false stories and leaks that endangered military personnel.[The Hill]
  • CNN and Politico stated they intend to defend their First Amendment rights following the announcement.[The Hill]
  • Hegseth previously established Pentagon rules requiring unclassified content pre-approval for credential retention and escorting journalists.[The Hill]

What remains uncertain

  • The long-term legal outcomes and potential additional outlet bans mentioned by the administration remain uncertain.[The Hill]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.