WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s announced ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico has begun taking effect, with journalists from the three organisations reportedly denied access to the White House on Saturday.
Trump announced a day earlier that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the organisations of repeatedly reporting what he described as “fake news.”
Initially, there was little visible change after the announcement. Journalists from the affected outlets continued working from the White House on Friday afternoon. The situation changed on Saturday morning.
MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner arrived at the White House with a cameraman but found that her hard press pass no longer worked. Gardner said a security officer asked her to hand over her badge and told her it had been disabled. When she asked why, she was told the decision had come from above the officer.
CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and a cameraman were also seen attempting to enter the White House grounds before leaving without their badges. Klein later reported that her press credential had also been deactivated.
Politico’s White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also reportedly denied entry and had her badge confiscated, bringing all three organisations named in Trump’s announcement into the latest access dispute.
Trump did not identify a particular CNN, MS NOW or Politico report as the reason for the decision. Instead, he criticised the organisations’ overall coverage and described it as “fake news.” He said the decision was based on what he described as cumulative reporting over recent years and suggested that other media organisations could also face similar action.
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CNN said it stands behind its White House team and will continue covering the administration. The network said its journalists have a constitutional right to report without government interference.
MS NOW said it intends to take all necessary steps to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism. The organisation also said it would continue reporting on the president, his administration and issues affecting the American people.
The White House Correspondents’ Association has backed the three organisations, saying journalists were being singled out for doing their jobs and stressing the importance of independent access to the activities and decisions of the administration.
The dispute is not without precedent. During Trump’s first term, the White House revoked the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta following a heated exchange with the president. CNN challenged the decision in court, and a federal judge ordered the credential restored.
More recently, the Trump administration restricted access for Associated Press journalists after the news agency continued using “Gulf of Mexico” while acknowledging Trump’s decision to rename it “Gulf of America.” The dispute also resulted in litigation over White House media access.
The latest restrictions could therefore lead to another legal battle over press access and First Amendment protections, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico indicating that they intend to defend their journalistic rights.
