From The New Yorker · Jelani Cobb · · 3m
Trump's war on the press enters a new phase
The President revoked White House access from three major news outlets, sparking a legal battle and an unusual show of solidarity among journalists.
In brief
The President revoked White House access from three major news outlets, sparking a legal battle and an unusual show of solidarity among journalists. Trump's pattern of punishing critical media through access bans is now facing coordinated legal and professional pushback from the press itself, though history suggests…
Trump bans three major news outlets
On September 18th, Trump revoked White House access from CNN, Politico, and MSNBC, citing national security and false reporting as justification.
“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 pattern of national security claims
Trump's administration has repeatedly invoked national security to justify unrelated actions, from halting wind farms to stripping union rights, establishing a pattern of using the justification broadly.
Media organizations file suit immediately
CNN, Politico, and MSNBC sued on Monday, claiming the ban violated their First Amendment rights. Dozens of other outlets, including the Times and Condé Nast, filed supporting briefs.
Justice Department's contradictory argument
The DOJ claimed the outlets threatened national security and that White House access is a privilege, not a right. But the same day, it cited Politico reporting that came from Vice-President Vance himself.
Judge Kelly suspends the ban
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump, imposed a fourteen-day suspension of the ban shortly after midnight Thursday. After journalists were still denied entry, he issued a 12:30 p.m. deadline for compliance.
Trump jokes about China's press control
While Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington, Trump joked that China has the friendliest press corps. China ranks 178th out of 180 nations in press freedom.
A long history of press punishment
Trump withheld credentials from outlets in 2016, blocked critics on Twitter during his first term, denied Jim Acosta access in 2018, and blocked the Associated Press last year over a naming dispute.
Courts have ruled against Trump before
A federal judge ruled Trump's Twitter blocking unconstitutional. Judge McFadden, another Trump appointee, ruled the AP ban violated the First Amendment, stating the government cannot shut doors to journalists based on viewpoint.
“Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists . . . it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.”
Media solidarity is historically rare
This time, journalists presented a united front. But after Trump blocked outlets in 2016, few organizations defended them. The AP ban drew minimal reaction, and some outlets settled lawsuits they likely could have won.
The cycle will likely repeat
Trump has sued ABC News, the Wall Street Journal, CBS News, the Pulitzer Prize Board, the Washington Post, and the Times for hundreds of millions of dollars. This pattern shows no signs of stopping.
Here's the gist
Trump's pattern of punishing critical media through access bans is now facing coordinated legal and professional pushback from the press itself, though history suggests this unity may not last.
