On Saturday morning journalists from CNN, Politico and the independent outlet MS NOW were stopped at the White House gates after President Donald Trump announced a ban on the three organisations, accusing them of publishing "fiction or lies" about his administration.
MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner and a photographer found that their press badges would not scan; a White House officer seized the credentials and told Gardner the badges had been disabled. A producer from the same outlet was still able to enter, although no explanation was given. CNN reporter Betsy Klein was similarly informed by a Secret Service agent that her badge had been deactivated, while Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett was denied entry and had her pass revoked.
Trump justified the action by citing "cumulative stories over the last few years" and hinted that other outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post could also be targeted, labeling them as "fake news". He did not specify any particular report that prompted the ban.
The White House Correspondents Association, represented by President Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News, called the decision a breach of the First Amendment and urged an immediate restoration of access, warning that selective exclusion could set a dangerous precedent. Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, described the ban as "flatly unconstitutional" and predicted a swift judicial overturn.
MS NOW issued a statement asserting that the White House belongs to the American people and pledged to take all steps necessary to defend its First Amendment rights. Politico’s editor‑in‑chief Jonathan Greenberger promised to "vigorously defend" his reporters, and CNN reiterated that the ban constitutes an illegal assault on constitutional press freedoms. The episode follows a series of legal confrontations between the Trump administration and media organisations, including ongoing lawsuits against the BBC and previous settlements with the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
You may also like
Category: International
Related Video: THE GENTS CONCLAVE
Related Explainer: Kenya’s inflation holds near 30-month high as transport and food costs squeeze households
Facebook
Twitter / X
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Telegram
Reddit