Trump Bans CNN, MSNBC and Politico From White House as Approval Hits Record Low
The White House has barred three major news organizations from its press area while President Trump faces record-low approval ratings and growing criticism from within his own party over tariffs and immigration.
President Donald Trump has banned CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House press area, accusing the outlets of reporting "fake news" [244584]. The move targets three major news organizations that cover the White House daily, and it is unclear how the ban will work in practice or how long it will last [244584]. Press access for major outlets is normally decided through a formal process, and banning specific organizations is highly unusual [244584].
The decision comes as Trump's approval ratings have reached a record low [244896]. The president has repeatedly tried to influence how journalists report on him since taking office, and he is now using his strongest tool yet [244896].
Trump is also using government agencies to limit press freedoms, according to free speech advocates who say the campaign will have lasting effects [245166].
Beyond the press restrictions, Trump faces mounting criticism from Republican lawmakers. Representative María Elvira Salazar of Florida said the president's immigration crackdown has "gone too far" and warned that Hispanic voters who backed Trump in 2024 now feel betrayed [243895]. Salazar is running for reelection in a heavily Republican district, and her comments put her to the left of Trump on his signature issue [243895]. The remarks signal growing concern inside the Republican Party, which won a larger share of Hispanic voters in 2024 and now worries that tough immigration policies could push those voters away in future elections [243895].
Salazar also criticized Trump in a new campaign film ahead of the midterm elections, saying the same Latino voters who helped elect him in 2024 now feel betrayed [244948]. The message was recorded in front of the White House and has surprised many [244948].
On trade, Trump's aggressive tariff agenda is failing to win over working-class voters as expected [246794]. For years, politicians from both parties believed that protectionist trade policies would win over working-class voters, but many are now turning away [246794]. The results suggest that tariffs alone may not be the winning message that trade hardliners once assumed [246794].
Trump has often shrugged off bad poll numbers, but he now seems to understand a hard truth: his brand and his party are losing favor with American voters [247185].
The White House has also labeled its critics as terrorists, blamed violence on a left-wing conspiracy, and investigated unions, nonprofits and other groups as part of a broader battle over free speech in the United States [247237]. The crackdown follows the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk [247237].
Americans share a deep, widespread feeling that they are being lied to, and this distrust has made politics unpredictable in a way not seen since Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without losing voters [247242].