# White House bars Politico from Air Force One pool assignment

Date: 2026

On 5 October 2026, the [White House](/organizations/white-house) barred Politico from Air Force One even though the outlet was scheduled to serve as the day's primary print pooler for [President Donald Trump](/people/mig-donald-trump)'s trip to Nebraska. Other news organizations declined to replace Politico, leaving the trip without a primary print pooler. The White House said access to Air Force One was "a privilege, not a right" and argued that the earlier federal court order applied to White House grounds rather than presidential travel.

The exclusion followed Trump's 18 September announcement barring Politico, CNN and MS NOW from White House access and a temporary restraining order restoring their badges. CNN had also been removed from a television pool assignment the previous week. The dispute was headed back to court for a hearing scheduled for Thursday, 8 October. Because the Air Force One decision came from the White House under Trump's authority, the act is attributed to him as head of the executive branch while the separate judicial dispute is treated as a legal consequence.

## People

- Donald Trump: https://factrail.ai/people/donald-trump

## Drivers

- Media Freedom: https://factrail.ai/drivers/media-freedom

## Sources

- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/removes-politico-press-pool-trump-nebraska-trip-rcna601746
- https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/05/media/politico-white-house-print-pool-media-cnn-msnow

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/us-white-house-bars-politico-from-air-force-one-2026-10-05