The Trump-friendly news outlet Newsmax was forced to admit that the president’s ban on three major news outlets from the White House was “backfiring” after a subsequent television network blackout against Trump triggered significant gaps in the network's own coverage.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House. In response, the nation’s major television networks launched a targeted media blackout against Trump, vowing not to cover events “designated as pool coverage of the President.” “Pool” refers to the small rotating group of journalists who are assigned to cover the president.
As a result, hosts at Newsmax, attempting to cover a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn, were stuck with near-silent footage and unable to hear Trump speak.
“There is no microphone because the pool cameras aren't there, so maybe this is one example of it backfiring just a little bit,” one Newsmax host could be heard saying. “The ramifications are right here — can't hear what the president is saying.”
Another Newsmax host argued that Trump’s White House ban on the three media outlets was “not gonna work out well,” declaring the ban to ultimately be “about shaming them.”
"Can't hear what the president is saying"
Newsmax says Trump's White House media ban "backfiring" after White House TV Pool revolt
"There is no microphone because the pool cameras aren't there, so maybe this is one example of it backfiring just a little bit" pic.twitter.com/kMllLMbDBf
— Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) September 21, 2026