Leaked White House talking points reveal an internal defense of President Donald Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House press access. The talking points, highlighted by MS NOW host Alicia Menendez, characterize reporting deemed inaccurate or disruptive as a breach of professional decorum.
"Fabricating facts or reporting verifiable falsehoods from inside the White House complex is an intentional breach of professional decorum, and it is severely disruptive to the mission and purpose of the White House," according to the leaked document. This statement appears to justify the ban, which Trump stated on social media was an "assault on the FAKE NEWS."
Trump implemented the ban last week, barring journalists from the three outlets from entering the White House and seizing their press credentials. The outlets subsequently filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, citing a "direct assault" on free speech and the First Amendment. The talking points also assert that "The First Amendment protects their right to publish; it does not entitle certain outlets and members of the press to a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool."
One of the leaked points claims, "No President has been more transparent or offered more of his time to the press," and that Trump "makes time to bring them into the conversation and answer reporters’ questions."
Legal analysts suggest the ban may be overturned. Andrew Weissman, an MS NOW legal analyst, told Menendez that the unilateral nature of the ban, without any opportunity for the organizations to be heard, violates due process. He expressed confidence that a judge, with precedent from similar cases, would rule in favor of the news organizations.
The ban and the subsequent lawsuit have added to the ongoing scrutiny of Trump's relationship with the press and his administration's transparency.