President Donald Trump declared on Friday that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico will no longer be permitted in the White House. Announcing on Truth Social, Trump stated, “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”
While speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reinforced his decision, citing these outlets’ cumulative reporting over the years. “You get sick of it,” he explained.
At the same time, CNN fired back at Trump’s administration over previous confrontations with its reporters. They described these attacks as ‘beneath the office.’ Trump, however, rejected claims that he was trying to intimidate the press.
CNN has a long-standing role as part of a rotating group of five networks, including Fox News, traveling with the president globally. Despite the ban, CNN was set to lead the network pool coverage for Trump’s United Nations General Assembly visit on Monday.
Trump criticized the New York Times and CNN for what he called ‘seditious’ coverage of the Iran conflict. During the Oval Office event, focused on healthcare, Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and former White House press secretary, denied the assertion that Trump opposes a free press. “I think it’s hard for you to argue against a free press when you’re literally standing in the Oval Office asking questions of the president of the United States,” she told reporters.
Previous attempts by the Trump administration to block media outlets and journalists were overturned by federal judges. Trump argued, “I don’t think that a court should allow fake news to be written day, after day, after day. I think that somebody has a right to keep them away.”
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy noted that CNN continued broadcasting from its media row tent outside the White House. However, a senior White House official informed that top executives at CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would be restricted from White House grounds starting Saturday.
In response, CNN released a statement asserting, “CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting. We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government.” They warned that proceeding with the ban would be an unlawful attack on the constitutionally protected right to report.
Similarly, Politico issued a statement, “Politico will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”
A spokesperson for MS NOW declined to comment.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.
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