Key facts
- President Donald Trump announced Friday he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.
- Trump cited "reporting FAKE NEWS!" as the reason for the ban.
- CNN stated the ban would be an "illegal assault" on First Amendment rights.
- Politico called Trump's claim of receiving government subsidies "false."
- The National Press Club criticized the ban as an attempt to control reporting on presidential power.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing "reporting FAKE NEWS!". Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the outlets "constantly write or report fiction or lies" about his administration and that more bans could follow. He also suggested that The New York Times and The Washington Post are "fake news."
CNN denounced the move, stating it stands behind its White House team and their reporting, and called the ban an "illegal assault" on constitutionally protected rights. Politico also pushed back on the ban and a separate claim by Trump that the outlet received government subsidies, calling it "false."
Press freedom organizations criticized the ban. The National Press Club called it a "clear attempt to control which voices are allowed to witness and report on the exercise of presidential power." PEN America's Tim Richardson and Freedom of the Press Foundation's Seth Stern also condemned the action, with Stern stating it demonstrates Trump is "scared of an informed public."
White House journalists report on the president's activities, question officials, and follow him as part of a press pool. The First Amendment protects their reporting from government censorship. Court rulings have established that press passes cannot be arbitrarily denied or revoked, and the White House must follow fair standards with notice and a chance to respond.