A day after US President Donald Trump announced a ban on MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House, journalists from MS NOW were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday.MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said her White House press badge was disabled when she arrived Saturday morning. A security officer asked her to hand over the badge and told her that the decision was “above him”.A photographer from the network was also denied access, while one of its producers was allowed onto the White House grounds. It was not immediately clear why their access differed.MS NOW said the White House belongs to the American people and that the network would take “any and all steps necessary” to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalists in a democracy.
Why did Trump ban MS NOW, CNN, Politico?
Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing the three outlets of repeatedly reporting what he called “FAKE NEWS”. In a Truth Social post, he said media organisations “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES” while covering the president.Asked about the decision in the Oval Office, Trump said it was based on “cumulative stories over the last few years”. He did not identify any specific report that prompted the ban. Trump also warned that other news organisations could face similar action.CNN said it stood behind its White House team and its “fair and accurate reporting”. Politico rejected Trump’s claim that it had received government subsidies, saying the allegation had been “thoroughly debunked”, and said it would defend its First Amendment rights.
Trump’s wider media fight
The latest move comes amid Trump’s broader clashes with news organisations over their coverage of his administration. Earlier, his administration restricted Associated Press access to certain White House spaces after the news agency declined to use the administration’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.Trump has also taken legal action against several media organisations, including the BBC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, accusing them of defamation. The disputes have further intensified tensions between the Trump administration and sections of the US media.