Blanche Pushes Back on ABC
Attorney General Todd Blanche sparred with ABC’s This Week host Martha Raddatz on Sunday over President Trump’s decision to bar CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House. Raddatz pressed Blanche about whether people would be screened before boarding a flight or entering the White House. Blanche objected that the question assumed something he had not said. His reply was blunt, and this was not exactly a Sunday morning group hug. He told Raddatz she did not get to put words in his mouth.
Raddatz’s Question Triggers a Sharp Reply
Raddatz asked, “You’re saying you’re gonna screen people before they get on a flight? Come into the White House?” Blanche answered, “I did not say that. You don’t get to put words in my mouth!” When Raddatz interrupted with, “But you said…,” Blanche repeated his objection: “You don’t get to put words in my mouth. That’s not how it works! You just said, ‘are you saying.’ I didn’t say that.” The argument turned on a basic question of accuracy: whether Blanche’s words should be reported as spoken or expanded into a claim he rejected.
What Trump Announced
Trump announced on Friday that CNN, MSNOW, and Politico were banned from the White House, saying the outlets constantly reported “FAKE NEWS.” That decision put White House press access at the center of the dispute. The affected organizations did not simply accept the restriction. They filed suit on Monday and sought an emergency order that would overturn the ban. The case tied a presidential media-access decision to a federal court fight, giving the dispute consequences beyond the television interview.
A Temporary Court Order Follows
A federal judge issued a temporary order directing the Trump administration to restore the affected media outlets’ access to the White House. The order addressed the immediate fight over whether those organizations could continue covering the president from inside the White House. The report also says CNN was blocked from boarding Air Force One on Saturday while President Trump traveled to Tennessee. That incident added a highly visible travel question to a dispute already focused on access, coverage, and who gets to report from around the president.
Other Outlets Covered the Tennessee Trip
The Gateway Pundit, Red State Media, and Real America’s Voice traveled with President Trump and covered his attendance at the University of Tennessee versus University of Texas football game. The report identifies those outlets as part of the media group that made the Tennessee trip, while CNN was unable to board Air Force One. That contrast gives the access fight a concrete edge. This was not only a dispute over statements and court filings. It also affected which media organizations could travel with the president and cover an event in person.
Watch the Exchange
The video below shows the exchange that put Blanche’s words, and Raddatz’s question, side by side. Viewers can hear Blanche reject the premise and repeat his objection in his own words.
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