Idaho Congressman is only Republican publicly opposing Trump’s White House media ban
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IDAHO FALLS – Days after President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from accessing the White House, an Idaho Congressman appears to be the lone Republican opposing the action.
In an interview with Politico on Monday morning, Rep. Mike Simpson said restricting press access is “wrong.”
“Just because you don’t like what the press is reporting or the fact that they wouldn’t call it the Gulf of America or something else like that, that’s not the reason to ban the press. You should never ban the press. The press is what keeps us honest,” Simpson said. “So, I don’t like what they’re doing.”
Simpson said he didn’t think such bans would reach Congress.
RELATED | Trump says he is banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) says restricting press access is “wrong,” in light of outlets being banned from the White House.
“Just because you don't like what the press is reporting or the fact that they wouldn't call it the Gulf of America or something else like that, that's…
— Em Luetkemeyer (@em_luetkemeyer) September 21, 2026
EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Simpson’s office for further comment. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
Meanwhile, an internet search of the websites and social media pages of Idaho’s other Congressional delegates’ have revealed no public statements about the issue. Similarly, state officials have remained silent about it.
Although no other conservative lawmakers have publicly spoken against it, Mediaite reported Monday morning that Republicans admit behind closed doors that Trump’s press ban is a “problem.”
Republican strategist Melik Abdul gave his perspective during a Monday appearance on “CNN This Morning.”
“If you talk to Republicans behind closed doors, everyone acknowledges this is a problem,” Abdul said. “And you ask, ‘Well, why can’t you say this on television?’ We know why: because this is just not what these platforms are for.”
Abdul later said there are two reasons why Republicans will not speak publicly about it. One is because they are concerned Trump will rip them back on Truth Social. They’re also worried about losing access to Trump’s inner circle.
Abdul’s appearance coincided with the White House expanding the press ban and yanking CNN off its scheduled TV pool assignment on Monday. The Associated Press reported earlier Monday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico collectively filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, saying the selective ban was “a blatant violation” of the First Amendment.
RELATED | CNN, MS NOW, Politico sue over denied White House access, citing First Amendment
In a post on Truth Social Monday morning, President Trump said that freedom of the press is “something which I cherish” and defended his actions.
“The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!” the president wrote.
Other Republican who have weighed in have defended Trump. Among them is House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Lousiana, who told ABC over the weekend, “I don’t think we’ve had a president that’s been more open to the press.”
“You go to a bill signing with President Trump, and the first thing he does before he even signs the bill is he brings in the press, and everybody gets to not only take pictures, but ask questions,” said Scalise. “He wants a free and fair press. Just the other day he was answering questions about this to the press and they’re asking him about his attitude towards the press while he’s holding a press conference. You never saw that under President Biden.”
Days after criticizing Trump for his crackdown on illegal immigration, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, said she had no problem with the ban.
“He has his own style and … he will determine who he wants to talk to,” Salazar said, according to The Hill. “He may not be allowing for some journalists to go into one place, but I’m sure that he’s got to be talking to everybody at some point. That’s his style and he’s very accessible, not like (former President) Biden.”
Simpson, who turned 76 earlier this month, has often supported Trump in the past. Mediaite notes that Simpson voted against Trump’s impeachement in 2019 and 2021. Still, this isn’t the first time he’s criticized America’s 47th president. In an interview with KIVI earlier this year, Simpson mildly criticized the way ICE tactics were being carried out, saying, “The optics are not good.”