CNN, MS NOW, and Politico announced Monday that they are suing the Trump administration following President Donald Trump's decision to revoke their White House access. The outlets stated their intention to file a lawsuit to defend First Amendment rights and the principle that the government cannot dictate press coverage.
The media companies' reporters were reportedly denied entry to the White House over the weekend, and their press credentials were seized following the ban issued Friday. A reporter for MS NOW recounted arriving at the White House campus to find her badge disabled and her access denied, with an officer stating the decision was beyond his authority. Reporters from CNN and Politico shared similar experiences.
"Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference," the joint statement from the outlets read. The White House has been contacted for comment.
President Trump announced the ban Friday afternoon in a social media post, warning that other news organizations could face similar restrictions. He cited "constant 'reporting' fake news" as the reason for the ban, stating that media outlets should not be able to publish "fiction and lies" when covering the administration or the country.
This action presents a new challenge to the First Amendment's protections for a free press, particularly as the administration moves to penalize news organizations whose coverage it dislikes. The First Amendment explicitly forbids the government from abridging the freedom of the press, a safeguard intended to allow news organizations to scrutinize those in power without fear of retaliation.