U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from accessing the White House.
Posting on Truth Social on Friday, Trump voiced dissatisfaction with the media organizations’ coverage of his administration.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump 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.”
When questioned later on Friday regarding his statement that other publications “should follow,” Trump categorized The Washington Post and The New York Times as “fake news.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that media outlets “purposely write negative stuff.”
He added that people grow weary of reading and watching fabricated reporting, alleging that outlets intentionally publish negative coverage to undermine Republicans and a Republican administration, despite what he described as a strong performance by his government.
When asked about the timing of the decision, Trump attributed the action to the “cumulative” nature of the media’s coverage.
Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, D.C., noted that the president’s ban is expected to face swift legal challenges.
“The United States has the First Amendment [of its Constitution] that says the government cannot restrict access to this sort of thing,” he said.
CNN rejects move
Reacting to the development, CNN condemned the move, stating that it stands behind the “fair and truthful reporting” of its White House team.
Politico declared that it will continue its objective coverage of the current and future White House administrations, adding that it will vigorously contest any attempts to restrict its First Amendment rights.
Additionally, Politico’s communications team rejected a separate assertion by Trump that the outlet had received government subsidies, characterizing the claim as false and thoroughly disproven.
MS NOW did not immediately respond to Trump’s statement.
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