US President Donald Trump has announced that CNN, MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, and Politico will be barred from the White House, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news.” Trump said the restriction was effective immediately and warned that other media organisations could also face similar action.
Trump did not provide details on how the ban would be implemented. Journalists from the three organisations were still present on White House grounds after the announcement, indicating that the practical scope of the restriction was initially unclear. Trump later said he did not want the outlets in his office or at the White House.
CNN rejected the move, saying it stood behind its White House team and its reporting, while Politico said it would defend its First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict access. Press freedom organisations and legal observers have raised constitutional concerns, particularly over whether government access to presidential events can be restricted because of the viewpoint or content of a news organisation’s coverage.
The announcement is the latest escalation in Trump’s long-running conflict with sections of the US media. He has also suggested that additional outlets could be targeted in the future.
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