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'It's unimaginable': Obama mocks Trump's CNN and Politico White House ban — but glossed over his own Fox News block

From the Newshound archive · first published 20 September 2026 · last updated 21 September 2026.

Barack Obama, who told a Colgate University audience that banning Fox News would have been unthinkable to him, while critics noted his own administration attempted a similar exclusion in 2009.
Barack Obama, who told a Colgate University audience that banning Fox News would have been unthinkable to him, while critics noted his own administration attempted a similar exclusion in 2009.

Barack Obama drew laughter at Colgate University on Friday by speculating what the reaction would have been had he banished Fox News from the White House, calling Trump's media ban "unimaginable." Trump announced on Friday that journalists from CNN, MSNBC and Politico are barred from White House access, calling them "fake news" that deliberately writes negative stories to "diminish" Republicans. All three outlets had their correspondents turned away at the door on Saturday morning with press passes confiscated, and their employers have vowed to challenge the move in court.

On Sunday, Trump posted an AI-generated image of three trash bags labelled CNN, MSNBC and Politico dumped outside the White House.

Obama's own administration tried in 2009 to block Fox News pool reporters from interviewing his "executive-pay czar" Kenneth Feinberg while granting other outlets full access.

Trump has suggested the ban could be extended to The New York Times and The Washington Post, raising fears of a broader press purge.

MoreThe IndependentObama blasts Trump’s ‘unimaginable’ White House media banThe IndependentObama speculates on reaction if he had barred media from White House like Trump: ‘It’s unimaginable’NY PostObama glosses over his own attempt to block media from White House — as he slams Trump’s CNN ban
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