President Donald Trump said Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, escalating his long-running dispute with several major U.S. news organizations.
Trump announced the move on social media, accusing the three outlets of publishing what he described as “fake news.” He later told reporters in the Oval Office that there was no single incident behind the decision, describing it instead as the result of coverage over the past several years.
How Will the Ban Work?
The exact scope of the restriction was not immediately clear.
Reporters from the affected organizations were still working at the White House on Friday afternoon after Trump made his announcement. Reuters reported that the White House was informing the outlets that they would be barred from White House grounds beginning Saturday.
Trump also suggested that additional news organizations could face similar restrictions.
News Organizations Respond
CNN said it stands behind its White House journalists and argued that restricting their access would violate constitutional protections for the press.
Politico said it would continue covering the White House and defend its First Amendment rights. MS NOW had not immediately issued a public response reported by Reuters.
The announcement is expected to raise significant legal questions because restrictions on press access can involve First Amendment and due-process protections. The legal implications could depend on exactly how the White House implements the restrictions.
The situation remains developing, and further details about how the announced ban will be enforced are expected.