CNN, MS NOW, Politico Reporters Barred From White House After Trump Announces Ban

Journalists from CNN and MS NOW were denied entry to the White House on Saturday, a day after US President Donald Trump announced that the two outlets, along with Politico, would no longer have access to the premises.

An MS NOW reporter and photographer arrived at the White House in the morning but found that their press badges had been deactivated. According to the network, a White House officer took the badges from them.

MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said the officer told her that her badge had been disabled but could not explain why she was being denied entry.

“The officer asked me to hand over my badge. He said that it was disabled,” Gardner said. “I asked why I was not able to get inside. He said it was above him.”

Gardner said both her and her colleague’s badges had been deactivated. An MS NOW producer, however, was allowed into the White House using a functioning badge. No immediate explanation was given for the difference.

CNN reporter Betsy Klein also said a Secret Service agent told her that her White House credential had been deactivated and confiscated.

It was not immediately clear whether a Politico reporter attempted to enter the White House on Saturday.

CNN Vows to Continue Coverage

CNN criticised the decision and said the denial of access would not stop its journalists from covering the Trump administration.

“Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds,” the network said in a statement. It added that its journalists would continue reporting on the US government despite efforts to restrict their physical access to the White House and other government buildings.

CNN argued that the US Constitution protects its ability to report without government interference and described the ban as an attack on that right.

The network said it would continue to scrutinise the government’s actions and hold public officials accountable, adding that it stood behind its White House reporting team.

Trump Accuses Outlets of Publishing ‘Fiction or Lies’

Trump announced on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would lose their White House access. He accused the organisations of publishing what he called “fiction or lies” about his administration.

The president did not identify specific reports that prompted the decision, later saying it was based on “cumulative stories over the last few years.”

Trump also indicated that other news organisations could face similar restrictions. When asked about The New York Times and The Washington Post, he called both outlets “fake news”, but did not announce formal bans against them.

Media Organisations Challenge Decision

The three affected organisations have criticised the move, arguing that it threatens press freedom and their constitutional rights.

An MS NOW spokesperson said the White House “belongs to the American people” and that the organisation would take necessary steps to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also criticised the decision. The organisation said it expected the courts to overturn the ban and described it as unconstitutional.

Its president, Bruce Brown, said the First Amendment does not allow the White House to exclude journalists simply because officials disagree with their reporting.

The dispute is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Trump administration and news organisations over press access and critical coverage. The administration has also pursued legal action involving several US and international media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC. Some of those cases have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements, while Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC remains ongoing.