Trump calls reporter fake news before boarding Air Force One for college game
Donald Trump told a reporter he wants "real news" and labeled the outlet as fake before heading to a football game in Knoxville.
Donald Trump rebuked a reporter, insisting he wants "real news" and branding the outlet as fake before boarding Air Force One for the University of Tennessee versus University of Texas game in Knoxville. The incident occurred amid a broader dispute after the administration excluded the outlet from the approved press list for the trip. Earlier, Trump had moved to bar one outlet, MS Now and one outlet from White House access, a decision a federal judge later ordered to be lifted for two weeks, though the outlets remained barred from a state dinner.
In response, the White House TV press pool, joined by major broadcasters, announced a boycott of covering Trump. Amid the media clash, Trump unveiled a personal channel, Trump TV, available 24/7 via the White House’s YouTube page.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major news organizations over press access.
How this story developed
- Sep 19 Press‑freedom groups are preparing legal challenges to the announced ban.
- Sep 19 President Donald Trump acted on his threat to bar certain outlets, preventing MS NOW journalists from entering the White House on Saturday.
- Sep 19 An MS NOW producer’s badge worked while a photographer’s badge was deactivated.
- Sep 21 Three news organizations filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration barred their reporters from the White House, citing First Amendment violations.
- Sep 21 Major broadcasters stopped their joint White House pool coverage after the ban.
- Sep 22 The White House opened the “Trump TV” YouTube channel.
- Sep 23 Trump TV debuted with a live feed of the president’s Mount Rushmore address and a mock 2025 inauguration video.
- Sep 24 Press operations director Micah Stopperich began reinstating the badges at 7:25 am, with the Secret Service confirming they were fully restored by 9:07 am and returned to the press gate for pickup around 9:55 am.
- Sep 24 Judge Kelly dismissed the administration’s national‑security justification for the ban.
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