The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search: access bans, national level

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

18 incidents match this view.

Country: China, RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180 Israel, RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180 South Africa, RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180 Tanzania, RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: Africa Asia North America

Tactic: Access bans (18) Credential control (6) Expulsion and visa denial (2) Shutdowns and blocking (2) Prior restraint (2) Detention and violence (2)

Stage: Restrict (14) Punish (2) Silence (2)

Outcome: Sustained (7) Reversed (5) Ongoing (4) Unknown (2)

Level: National (18)

Head of government: Donald Trump George H. W. Bush George W. Bush Li Peng P. W. Botha Ronald Reagan Samia Suluhu Hassan

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 18, 2026United States: White House hard-pass deactivations for CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, September 2026United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpOngoing (September 21, 2026)
January 7, 2026Israel: ban on independent entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, 2023 to 2026Israel (RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180)Access bansSustained (February 25, 2026)
October 31, 2025White House closes 'Upper Press' section of West Wing to reportersUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained
October 29, 2025Tanzania shuts down internet access on election day amid unrestTanzania (RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingSamia Suluhu HassanUnknown
October 15, 2025United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
April 15, 2025White House ends wire services' guaranteed seat in the press poolUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained
February 25, 2025United States: White House takes over selection of the presidential press pool, February 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained (September 22, 2026)
February 11, 2025United States: White House exclusion of the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One, February 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpOngoing (July 22, 2025)
February 6, 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpUnknown
July 23, 2020Federal officers restrict press access to Portland protests; judge orders them to stopUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpReversed (July 23, 2020)
November 7, 2018White House revokes CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credential after a news conference exchange with President TrumpUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
November 7, 2018United States: White House suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass, November 2018United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
February 10, 2003Pentagon sets ground rules for journalists embedded with United States forces in IraqUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansGeorge W. BushSustained (April 14, 2003)
January 17, 1991United States military restricts reporters to escorted press pools during the Gulf WarUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansGeorge H. W. BushSustained (February 28, 1991)
June 14, 1989China expels foreign journalists and restricts coverage of the Tiananmen Square protestsChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialLi PengSustained (January 1, 1990)
November 2, 1985South Africa bans television and photographic coverage of unrest under a state of emergencySouth Africa (RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180)Shutdowns and blockingP. W. BothaReversed (June 1, 1990)
October 25, 1983United States military bars journalists from the invasion of GrenadaUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansRonald ReaganReversed (April 1, 1985)
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