Sept. 18 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Friday said he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from the White House.
Trump said on social media the ban was “effective immediately” as a result of what he called “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.”
“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,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
Trump’s move escalates his ongoing battle with news organizations whose coverage he dislikes.
Last year, the administration banned the Associated Press from several events because it continued to use Gulf of Mexico instead of the president’s new name for the body of water.
In 2018, CNN reporter Jim Acosta lost his credential to the White House until a federal judge ordered the pass restored.
Seth Stern, advocacy chief at Freedom of the Press Foundation, said “it’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment.
“It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move,” Stern added. in a statement. “The historically unpopular president has been retaliating against the press for years, but it hasn’t helped him.
“The press keeps exposing his corruption and his failures. These outrageous attacks only demonstrate how scared he is of an informed public.”
It is unclear when the ban will go into effect. CNN said its reporters were still stationed in their White House workspace Friday evening.
“CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting,” the network said in a statement. “We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government.
“Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
Politico said it would “continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones.”
“We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them,” the news outlet said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters Friday night, Trump threatened to take his ban even further.
“There may be others to join them,” he said, singling out The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Source: U.S. News
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