Trump Attorney General Defends Media Ban, Citing 'National Security Problem'

Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended former President Donald Trump's decision to ban certain media outlets from the White House, asserting that false reporting by these organizations creates a "national security problem." Blanche made these arguments on ABC News Sunday, stating that the administration's position is that inaccurate and one-sided news coverage poses a risk to national security.

Blanche specifically addressed reporting from CNN and Politico, suggesting that the "complete misinformation and the inaccuracy and the one-sided news out of certain organizations does become a national security issue." He argued that the public deserves to receive accurate information about the administration's actions.

"It's not right for the people of the United States to have to put up with," Blanche said regarding the perceived misinformation. He also noted that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right, implying that the administration can control who enters the premises.

The ban, which targeted outlets including CNN and Politico, was enacted after Trump accused them of peddling "fake news." Despite a court ruling that temporarily restored access for these outlets, reports emerged of some reporters being denied entry to White House events, including a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping. This led to renewed accusations of a media blackout.

A lawsuit was filed by the banned outlets, and a U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted a temporary restraining order, mandating the restoration of access for Politico, CNN, and MS NOW for 14 days. The judge expressed skepticism about the ban, suggesting the White House did not provide adequate due process. Despite this ruling, the White House's communication director's office reportedly directed reporters to "talk to Steven" when they inquired about access.

In solidarity with the banned outlets, major broadcasters like Fox News, NBC, CBS, and ABC, which form the TV pool responsible for covering presidential events, initially refused to cover Trump in protest. However, CNN reported being allowed back into the White House on Thursday, though subsequent events saw further access denials.

Trump himself has been vocal about his criticism of certain media outlets, referring to them as "fake news" and contrasting their coverage with what he deems "real news." He suggested that outlets like CNN and MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, have low ratings and do not produce positive coverage of his administration. During an exchange with an MS NOW reporter, Trump stated, "I want real news. Not fake news, like you."