Washington: President Donald Trump has ordered an immediate prohibition on CNN, MS NOW and Politico operating from the White House, intensifying his administration’s confrontational stance toward mainstream media.
The move, announced via Truth Social on Friday, accuses the three outlets of peddling falsehoods about his presidency, though no specific reports were cited as justification.
‘Fiction And Lies’
In his post, the president wrote: “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
Later, speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, Trump described the action as a “very simple ban” driven by years of frustrating coverage, as reported by the BBC.
“It’s really just cumulative stories over the last few years,” he said. “You get sick of it.”
He acknowledged the decision could be challenged in court, remarking: “I think it’s good to point it out, whether it survives or doesn’t.” Trump also suggested more organisations might face similar treatment, without identifying them.
Media Vows To Fight For Press Rights
CNN condemned the announcement as an unlawful attack on press freedoms, insisting its reporting is protected by the Constitution.
In a statement, the network said: “We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government. Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.” CNN added that it “stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting.”
Politico responded with a similar commitment to continue its coverage and fight any restrictions. The outlet said: “We 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.” MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, declined to comment on the development.
Press, Advocates Cry Foul On Ban
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) denounced the plan as a direct threat to independent journalism and public access to information.
WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich, a Fox News correspondent, stated: “The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask.”
She emphasised: “This is about more than the rights of journalists. It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office.”
Press-freedom groups warned the ban is likely unconstitutional and predicted swift legal action. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University argued that excluding journalists from the press pool based on viewpoint violates the First Amendment, calling the pool a “public forum.”
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press labelled it “textbook viewpoint discrimination” and “flatly unconstitutional.” The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the move “illegal,” adding: “It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.” It said Trump “has been retaliating against the press for years, but it hasn’t helped him,” and that “these outrageous attacks only demonstrate how scared he is of an informed public.”
The scope of the ban remains unclear, with reporters from CNN and Politico still present on White House grounds shortly after the announcement, and a CNN crew accompanying Vice-President JD Vance in Iowa.
