WASHINGTON — In a move that has reignited debates over press freedom, the White House denied access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico on Saturday morning, effectively carrying out a ban announced by US President Donald Trump.
According to separate statements from the three news organizations, their teams had their press passes confiscated when they attempted to enter the White House grounds. The confrontation follows a social media post made by President Trump on Friday, in which he accused the outlets of “reporting FAKE NEWS” and stated that they “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States”. The president also ominously added, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow”.
Constitutional Challenges Ahead
The targeted news organizations immediately pushed back against the administration’s actions, signaling that they are prepared to contest the ban on constitutional grounds. They argue that the ban directly conflicts with the First Amendment’s protections for free speech and a free press.
CNN released a statement on Saturday condemning the ban as “an illegal assault” on its constitutional right to conduct journalism free from government interference. MS NOW and Politico echoed similar sentiments, with MS NOW declaring its intention to “take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy”. Both CNN and MS NOW confirmed they would continue to report on the Trump administration, while Politico affirmed it stands by its White House reporters.
Expanding the Scope?
The ban may not stop with CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. During remarks in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump elaborated on his threat to ban other outlets. When asked what he meant by “Other Fake News Media Outlets,” Trump cited the New York Times and the Washington Post as examples of “fake news,” though he stopped short of explicitly stating he would ban them from the White House.
In response to the developments, the New York Times issued a statement describing the president’s latest ban as “yet another retaliatory and unconstitutional threat” and expressed solidarity with the unfairly targeted news organizations.
A History of Clashing with the Press
This recent ban is not an isolated incident for the Trump administration. The president has a history of attempting to exclude certain news outlets and specific journalists from press gatherings.
Last year, the Associated Press (AP) was banned from the pool of reporters covering his movements after the agency refused to adopt Trump’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico—”the Gulf of America”—which the president had instructed the executive branch to use. The AP is currently challenging that ban.
Additionally, during his first term, the Trump White House attempted to revoke or suspend the press credentials of Playboy correspondent Brian Karem and CNN’s Jim Acosta. In both instances, federal judges intervened and ordered the restoration of their White House press passes.