Trump said Friday, Sept. 18, the three outlets are out "because they're fake news," and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he "fully supports" the decision. Axios alone reported the remark. There is no written order, and the White House has not said how the bar would work. Federal courts have previously held the White House cannot revoke press access over an outlet's coverage.
What we’re less sure of2 of 5 claims
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The White House has not said how the bar would work
Absence-of-comment reporting; Axios alone carried the remark.
Medium
Federal courts have previously held the White House cannot revoke press access over an outlet's coverage
Public-record precedent (Acosta/CNN 2018, AP 2025); desk context, not this story's sources.