Trump Just Floated The Idea Of Jailing Reporters Over Leaks

The president didn't shy away from the idea of throwing reporters in jail if they have leaks.
By Andrea Thompson — October 2, 2026

Just days after Donald Trump was forced to lift his White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO, the president is now floating the notion of jailing reporters over leaks.

On September 18, Trump announced that he was banning the trio of media outlets for "their constant 'reporting' of FAKE NEWS!" All three outlets sued, and a 14-day temporary restraining order against the ban was implemented by Trump-appointed Judge Timothy Kelly, which ordered the outlets' access to be restored.

Despite that TRO, the president continues to target CNN specifically, with the outlet being removed from the press pool traveling with Trump during his trips to Texas and Oklahoma.

Following a rally for Ken Paxton in Texas, Trump spoke from the tarmac in Dallas, where a reporter confronted him: "You've been critical of CNN and other media outlets for their coverage."

Before the reporter could even finish their sentence, Trump interjected, "They're terrible!"

"What do you feel about those who feel like you’re doing too much with your executive power, you’re using it too much to go after political opponents, against the media," the reporter continued to press, "Things like that?"

Trump's response was beyond unsettling:

I don’t think I’ve used it at all. If you look at [former President Barack] Obama, what he did was far worse. He’d go and use his executive powers at a much [unintelligible]. For instance, when he had leaks, they would arrest the people — the reporters — unless they gave them the names and the addresses of the reporter or whoever it was that gave the leak.

Obama used to go in, and if there was a leak, they would say to people, “You have 15 minutes, and if you don’t give us the information, you’re going to jail.” I guess two people went to jail. 10 people gave it up. I haven’t done that — yet.

He briefly paused before adding another "Yet..."

The man wants to be a full-fledged dictator so bad, he can taste it.

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