President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is barring CNN, Politico, and MS NOW—formerly known as MSNBC—from the White House. In a post on Truth Social, the president accused these outlets of reporting "fiction or lies" regarding his administration, though he did not cite specific examples. When asked about the timing of the decision, Trump described the move as a result of "cumulative stories over the last few years."

Despite the announcement, reporters from the affected organizations remained on White House grounds shortly after the statement was released. The administration has not yet clarified the logistics of how the ban would be enforced or if it would result in the removal of press credentials. Trump acknowledged that the policy might face legal challenges, stating, "I think it's good to point it out, whether it survives or doesn't."

The targeted media organizations have strongly pushed back against the directive. CNN characterized the potential ban as an "illegal assault" on press freedoms, asserting that the network has a constitutional right to report without government interference. Politico stated it would "vigorously defend our First Amendment rights" and continue its coverage of the administration. MS NOW declined to comment on the matter.

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Legal experts and press advocacy groups have criticized the move as unconstitutional. The Knight First Amendment Institute noted that previous court rulings have consistently opposed such exclusions, while the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press labeled the action "textbook viewpoint discrimination." The Freedom of the Press Foundation also condemned the announcement, suggesting it would likely be struck down by the courts.

This development follows a series of tensions between the Trump administration and the press corps since the president's return to office in January 2025. Earlier this year, the administration took control of the press pool from the White House Correspondents Association and restricted Associated Press staff from certain areas over a dispute regarding terminology. Trump has previously engaged in legal battles with various media outlets, including the BBC, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.

Source: BBC News