US President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are being barred from the White House, accusing the news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.”
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Friday, saying the ban was effective immediately. He accused the three outlets of reporting what he called “fiction and lies” about his administration and the United States.
Trump also warned that other media organisations could face similar restrictions. During subsequent remarks to reporters, he mentioned The New York Times and The Washington Post as outlets he considers to be producing negative coverage, although he did not announce the same ban against them at that time.
The president also cited a reported $8 million in government subscriptions to Politico during the Biden administration as part of his criticism of the outlet. Politico rejected the claim that it had received government subsidies, describing the allegation as false.
CNN said it stood behind its White House reporting and argued that journalists have a constitutional right to cover the government without interference. Politico similarly said it would continue reporting on the Trump administration and defend its First Amendment rights.
The announcement has drawn criticism from press-freedom organisations and legal experts, who have questioned whether the White House can exclude news organisations because of the content of their reporting. The dispute could ultimately face a legal challenge.
The White House has previously faced court challenges over restrictions placed on journalists. In 2018, CNN reporter Jim Acosta was temporarily denied access before a court ordered the restoration of his press credentials. More recently, the Associated Press challenged restrictions imposed by the Trump administration over its terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.
By Saturday, MS NOW said its journalists had been denied entry to the White House grounds, indicating that at least part of Trump’s announced restrictions was being enforced.
The latest dispute adds to the longstanding tension between Trump and news organisations whose coverage he considers unfavorable, while raising questions about the limits of presidential authority over access to the White House and the protection of press freedom.
