White House Bars Reporters from CNN, MS NOW, Politico

Reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied access to the White House on Saturday morning, with journalists from the two cable networks reporting they had been barred. The action followed a ban imposed by President Donald Trump, who cited their coverage as "fake news."

Politico stated that its White House reporter, Cheyenne Haslett, was also denied entry and had her badge confiscated. The announcement came shortly after CNN and MS NOW journalists were turned away. CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner both reported on air that their credentials had been deactivated.

Trump had announced Friday on his social media site that he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House due to their "constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" He reiterated his stance later that day, calling the coverage from the outlets "fake."

MS NOW issued a statement asserting its commitment to holding the government accountable and defending First Amendment rights. CNN also released a similar statement, emphasizing its duty to report and hold public bodies to account. Politico’s editor-in-chief, Jonathan Greenberger, stated, "We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. ... We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights."

This is not the first time the Trump administration has restricted access for news organizations. Last year, Trump barred Associated Press reporters from events in retaliation for the AP’s decision not to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. The AP filed a lawsuit over the matter, which is ongoing. The administration has also pursued legal actions against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.