Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico has begun to affect reporters’ access to the White House, with journalists from all three organisations denied entry to the grounds on Saturday.
The president announced the restrictions in a Truth Social post on Friday, accusing the outlets of negative coverage and claiming that media organisations should not be allowed to report “FICTION and LIES” about the US president. He warned that other news organisations could also face a ban.
Asked at a press conference whether he was trying to intimidate the press, Mr Trump said: “No, no, no, no. I dislike dishonest press, like you. I think you’re terrible.”
He said the outlets “purposely write negative news” to try to diminish Republicans and a Republican administration. Mr Trump added that no single article had prompted the decision, describing it instead as frustration that had built over the past two years.
Reporters denied access to White House grounds
Akayla Gardner, an MS NOW reporter, said on air that she had been refused entry and asked by an officer to hand over her press badge because it had been “disabled”.
“I asked why I was not able to get inside,” Ms Gardner said. “He said it was above him.”
An MS NOW producer was able to enter the grounds, and the network said it would continue reporting on the president. It said the White House belonged to the American people and that it intended to take “any and all steps necessary” to defend its First Amendment rights.
CNN reporter Betsy Klein was also denied access. She said she had covered the White House in some capacity since the Obama administration, but that a Secret Service agent took her badge on Saturday morning and provided no explanation for its deactivation.
CNN said the government had no right to interfere with its reporting under the US Constitution. It said a ban threatened by Mr Trump would be “an illegal assault” on the constitutionally protected right to report.
Jonathan Greenberger, Politico’s global editor-in-chief, said White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett had also been refused entry. He said the organisation stood by her and all reporters covering the White House and would vigorously defend its First Amendment rights.
Jacqui Heinrich, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said the Constitution protected press freedom from government interference. That protection, she said, did not depend on whether a president liked an organisation’s coverage, agreed with its reporting or approved of the questions its journalists asked.
Theodore Boutrous, a leading US First Amendment lawyer, told NPR that the ban was unconstitutional on its face.
The decision comes during a midterm election season in which Democrats have an advantage, amid criticism of Mr Trump’s war in the Middle East, concerns over affordability and opposition to threats to demolish the John F Kennedy Performing Arts Center.
Mr Trump also barred an Associated Press reporter from two official events last year after the news service did not refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. During his first term, he barred a CNN reporter. Courts backed the media in both cases, although the AP ruling is still being appealed.
