Scott Jennings Is Put on the Spot Over Trump Banning CNN & MS NOW

CNN’s conservative commentator Scott Jennings was put on the spot on Monday night (September 21) when he was asked if he supports President Donald Trump‘s press ban.

Trump announced on Friday (September 18) that he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. In a Truth Social post, he warned, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.” On Saturday (September 19), reporters from those three outlets had the Secret Service take away their press credentials.

CNN host Sara Sidner, filling in for Abby Phillip on Monday’s edition of CNN NewsNight, asked Jennings whether he supported Trump’s ban, which includes the network he works for.

“I think he’s unlikely to prevail in court,” replied Jennings, who is one of the rumored names to be the next White House press secretary. “It seems to me the net result of this has been [Trump] has less reach. I mean, his message is not going to get out as much.”

The MAGA mouthpiece added, “If this sort of becomes the way it is, he will be seen and heard by fewer people, which I think is actually a net negative since he’s his own best spokesperson and his own best press secretary.”

The impact of Trump’s media ban is already being felt. His ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new White House helipad aired without audio on Monday after the press pool was left without a microphone.

Jennings said another negative effect of Trump’s ban is that it takes away his combative interactions with reporters. “I actually think sparring with some of these folks in the Oval works to his advantage,” he stated. “And so if you take them out, you lose that a little bit.”

While Jennings didn’t outright answer whether he supported Trump’s ban, he made it clear that he doesn’t think it will “stick” based on what he’s heard. “And it may be a little self-defeating if you consider that you want the president to be heard and seen more, like I do,” he added. “This seems to be working against that. So we’ll see what happens.”

Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, who was a guest on the show, then asked Jennings, “So, if you’re press secretary, you’re not gonna do that? Is that what you’re pledging here right now?”

Jennings laughed and replied, “I’m not answering that.”

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Since Trump announced the ban on Friday, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have filed a lawsuit against the president. In addition, all the major news networks, including Fox News, have come together in support of the banned outlets. The White House, meanwhile, launched its own network, Trump TV, on Monday.

Before wrapping up the segment, Jennings added that he believes CNN and Politico are “news outlets,” but said MS NOW is “like total alternative reality… I actually think there’s a difference.”

Sidner pointed out how “some people might say that about Fox.”

“Yeah, Obama,” Jennings quipped. “He said that about Fox.”

You can watch the segment at this link and let us know your thoughts below.