Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the news organisations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news.”

Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, saying the outlets would no longer be allowed access to the White House because of their coverage of his administration. He also indicated that additional media organisations could face similar restrictions in the future.

“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,” Trump wrote.

The exact scope of the ban was not immediately clear. However, reports on Saturday said journalists from MS NOW were denied entry to White House grounds after their press credentials were deactivated.

CNN and Politico said they would continue reporting on the administration and defend their constitutional rights. The White House Correspondents’ Association also criticised the move, saying press freedom protections do not depend on whether a president agrees with a news outlet’s reporting.

Legal experts said the move could face First Amendment challenges. Previous attempts by the Trump administration to restrict access for journalists, including cases involving CNN and the Associated Press, have resulted in court battles over press freedoms and due process rights.

- MaT