The White House has enacted President Trump’s order to revoke press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, according to reports from Reuters. This action took place on Saturday, resulting in the confiscation of access credentials for these news organizations when their journalists arrived at the White House.
The affected publications have indicated they may challenge this ban, arguing it violates First Amendment protections for free speech and press freedom in the United States. CNN described the restriction as an “illegal assault” on its constitutional right to operate free of government interference in a statement issued on Saturday.
MS NOW and Politico have both stated they will defend their First Amendment rights. MS NOW expressed its intent to take all necessary measures to uphold the First Amendment and the vital role of independent journalism in democracy.
CNN and MS NOW confirmed they would continue to report on the Trump administration, while Politico expressed its support for the journalists covering the White House.
President Donald Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing the three outlets of consistently disseminating fake news.
Trump Threatens Additional Media Outlets
In a social media post on Friday, Trump warned that other media organizations disseminating fake news could also face similar restrictions. When reporters in the Oval Office asked him about which other publications he was targeting, Trump referred to the New York Times and the Washington Post, but did not explicitly state that their access would also be revoked.
The New York Times issued a statement condemning Trump’s ban on its colleagues in the press as “yet another unconstitutional threat,” stating its support for the media organizations unfairly targeted by the president.
Last year, Trump barred the Associated Press from accompanying him on trips due to the agency’s refusal to adopt the administration’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump renamed to the “Gulf of America.” The AP contested this ban.
During Trump’s first term, the White House attempted to revoke or suspend the credentials of Playboy correspondent Brian Karem and CNN journalist Jim Acosta, but federal judges ruled in favor of restoring their access.
