CNN Excluded From Air Force One for President Trump’s Trip to Tennessee
CNN was excluded from Air Force One for President Trump's trip to a college football game in Tennessee.
Burlington Plattsburgh, VT, September 26, 2026 —
In a notable instance of media access during presidential travel, CNN was reportedly excluded from traveling aboard Air Force One for a recent trip taken by President Donald Trump. The exclusion occurred during the President’s journey to attend a college football game.
The destination for this particular trip was Tennessee, where President Trump was scheduled to be present at a college football event. The specific college football game and the exact date of the trip were not detailed in the information provided.
Air Force One, the official air traffic command of the United States, is often used by the President for both official duties and campaign-related travel. It is customary for a pool of journalists representing major news organizations to accompany the President on such flights, providing real-time coverage and reporting. The exclusion of a news outlet like CNN from this pool marks a departure from typical arrangements.
The reasons for CNN’s exclusion from this specific trip were not publicly stated in the provided summary. The contractor responsible for facilitating media access, or the specific directive leading to the exclusion, were also not specified. Furthermore, the nature of any subsequent communications or actions taken by CNN or the White House following this exclusion were not detailed. The specific protocol or policy that permitted or necessitated this exclusion was also not elaborated upon. The duration of this exclusion, or whether it applied to other presidential travel, remains unstated.
Media access to presidential travel has been a subject of discussion and, at times, contention. Decisions regarding which outlets are included in the traveling press pool can impact the dissemination of information and public perception. This incident highlights a specific instance where a prominent news organization did not have access to the President’s travel on Air Force One for a public event.
Story summarized from the original created by SARAH RANKIN and HALLIE GOLDEN, Associated Press on www.mychamplainvalley.com, see more information here.
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