# Trump administration tensions with media > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-tensions-with-media > Updated: 2026-09-28T12:35:40.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. President Donald Trump has engaged in escalating confrontations with various media organizations and figures. The administration has faced scrutiny for restricting media access, including barring CNN from traveling on Air Force One and preventing MS Now and CNN journalists from covering a dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping. During a White House interaction, Trump told an MS Now correspondent to ‘be quiet’ and characterized outlets as ‘fake news,’ specifically referring to MS Now as ‘MS DNC.’ Beyond access restrictions, the dispute has expanded to include public verbal attacks on media personalities. Trump used Truth Social to criticize Bill Maher’s viewership and predicted the decline of Joe Scarborough’s program. In response, Scarborough criticized the administration’s use of taxpayer-funded political advertisements featuring Trump’s rhetoric regarding a ‘final battle’ against the ‘Deep State.’ Scarborough characterized the use of state funds for such political messaging as ‘communism’ and ‘socialism.’ ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: Donald Trump clashes with media figures over ratings and taxpayer-funded ads President Trump criticized media figures Bill Maher and Joe Scarborough on Truth Social, while Scarborough condemned the president’s use of taxpayer-funded political advertisements. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-clashes-with-media-figures-over-ratings-and-taxpayer-funded-ads ### 2026-09-27: Donald Trump clashes with MS Now and CNN reporters Donald Trump escalated tensions with the press, telling an MS Now reporter to ‘be quiet’ and accusing CNN and MS Now of spreading ‘fake news’ following recent restrictions on their media access. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-clashes-with-ms-now-and-cnn-reporters --- Cite as: Trump administration tensions with media. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-tensions-with-media