From BBC News · · 3m
Trump bans three news outlets from White House
CNN, Politico and MS NOW sued after losing press access, sparking a constitutional showdown over First Amendment protections.
In brief
CNN, Politico and MS NOW sued after losing press access, sparking a constitutional showdown over First Amendment protections. Trump's ban on three major news outlets for critical coverage has triggered a federal lawsuit and prompted other networks to withdraw from White House pool coverage, raising questions about…
Three outlets banned from White House
Trump announced Friday that CNN, Politico and MS NOW are barred from the White House, accusing them of writing fiction and lies about his administration. The outlets' reporters were denied access starting Saturday.
Media outlets file federal lawsuit
CNN, Politico and MS NOW filed suit Monday in US District Court, arguing the ban violates the First Amendment and asking a judge to rule it unconstitutional. They said the White House revoked their credentials without notice or process.
“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting.”
First Amendment protects press from government
The First Amendment forbids the government from abridging press freedom. Courts have traditionally interpreted this as preventing government discrimination against media based on their coverage.
Other networks suspend White House coverage
Major US TV networks pulled out of White House pool duties Monday, refusing to share coverage material after CNN was prevented from fulfilling its pool duties. The five-seat CNN booth in the White House basement sat empty.
Trump launches Trump TV streaming channel
After networks suspended pooled coverage, the White House launched Trump TV, a streaming channel to distribute presidential content directly. This bypasses traditional media outlets.
Trump attacks outlets as fake news
Trump called the banned outlets Third Rate Clowns and Crooked and Corrupt Press. He said outlets that write negatively and publish false stories from unnamed sources shouldn't have White House access.
“Fake News people and publications that only write negatively...shouldn't be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World.”
Trump hints at more bans coming
Trump said there may be other outlets to join the ban, later naming the New York Times and Washington Post as fake news. He did not specify which stories prompted the original ban.
White House took control of press pool
In February, the Trump administration took control of the press pool from the White House Correspondents' Association, which had managed it for over a century. This gives the White House direct power over media access.
AP sued over Gulf of Mexico naming
In February, the White House barred Associated Press reporters from limited-access spaces like the Oval Office because AP uses the term Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America. AP filed a lawsuit that remains ongoing.
Obama tried similar Fox News exclusion
The Obama administration attempted to exclude Fox News from a press pool interview in 2009, but other networks pushed back and Fox was granted access. Unlike Trump's ban, it targeted one interview, not all pool coverage.
Trump has sued multiple news outlets
Trump's administration has launched legal action against the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BBC. Some outlets have agreed to multi-million-dollar settlements, while his BBC lawsuit remains ongoing.
What matters most
Trump's ban on three major news outlets for critical coverage has triggered a federal lawsuit and prompted other networks to withdraw from White House pool coverage, raising questions about press freedom and government power.
