Attorney General Defends CNN Exclusion from Air Force One

Attorney General Todd Blanche asserted on Sunday that access to the White House and to Air Force One is a “privilege, not a right.” Speaking to ABC’s *This Week*, he defended the White House’s decision to keep CNN off the presidential aircraft during President Donald Trump’s trip to Tennessee, saying the president may choose who travels with him. Blanche also framed the move as a national-security measure, arguing that inaccurate reporting could harm the United States’ image abroad.

Blanche defends White House’s banning CNN from Air Force One, citing national security

The exclusion followed a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, which had restored press credentials for Politico, CNN and MS NOW after they were barred from the White House for nearly a week. Judge Kelly expressed skepticism about the administration’s national-security justification, writing that the record did not convincingly show that safeguarding security was the true motive.

Politico

• The White House television pool continued with a Fox News crew covering Trump’s golf tournament outside Chicago after the other major networks declined to replace CNN in the rotation.

Blanche defends White House’s banning CNN from Air Force One, citing national security

Judge Kelly’s order highlighted judicial doubt that national-security concerns justified the press ban. Legal analysts noted that the administration’s argument “failed to hold water” in court, and the refusal of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox to step into the pool left a temporary gap in independent video coverage of the presidential trip.

Blanche defends White House’s banning CNN from Air Force One, citing national security

Litigation over the White House’s press restrictions remains pending. The court has ordered the reinstatement of credentials for at least two weeks, and further hearings are expected to determine whether the administration’s national-security claim can withstand judicial scrutiny.

Blanche defends White House’s banning CNN from Air Force One, citing national security

• “The president has every right to decide who gets to fly on his plane, and it is national security, especially on Air Force One, and especially at the White House,” — General Todd Blanche, attorney

Blanche defends White House’s banning CNN from Air Force One, citing national security