The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search: access bans, outcome sustained

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

11 incidents match this view.

Country: Belarus, RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180 China, RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180 Israel, RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180 Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Access bans (11) Expulsion and visa denial (2) Credential control (1) Prior restraint (1) Detention and violence (1)

Stage: Restrict (7) Punish (4)

Outcome: Sustained (11)

Level: National (10) State or province (1)

Head of government: Alexander Lukashenko Donald Trump George H. W. Bush George W. Bush Li Peng Ron DeSantis Vladimir Putin Xi Jinping

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
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
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)
January 1, 2025United States (Florida): Halo Law buffer zone around first responders, January 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansRon DeSantisSustained (January 1, 2025)
June 16, 2022Russia: entry bans, visa restrictions and bureau closures for foreign correspondentsRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Access bansVladimir PutinSustained (June 16, 2022)
August 29, 2020Belarus: accreditation withdrawn from 17 journalists working for foreign outletsBelarus (RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180)Access bansAlexander LukashenkoSustained (August 29, 2020)
February 19, 2020China: three Wall Street Journal correspondents expelled over an opinion headlineChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Access bansXi JinpingSustained (February 19, 2020)
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)
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