Reporters and photographers from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW were blocked from entering the White House on Saturday morning after their security credentials were deactivated. According to the affected outlets, Secret Service officers confiscated the journalists' badges upon their arrival, stating that the passes had been disabled.
The move follows an announcement by President Donald Trump on Friday, in which he declared that he was barring the three organizations from the White House. The President accused the outlets of publishing "fiction or lies" regarding his administration, describing the decision as a response to "cumulative stories over the last few years." When questioned about potential future bans, the President identified The New York Times and The Washington Post as additional examples of what he termed "fake news."
Affected journalists described the process of being turned away. MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner noted that while her badge was confiscated, a producer from her outlet was still permitted entry, with no explanation provided for the discrepancy. CNN reporter Betsy Klein and Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett also reported that their access had been revoked.
The decision has drawn sharp condemnation from the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich stated that the administration's actions violate the First Amendment, warning that "a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future."
Legal experts and press freedom advocates have characterized the ban as unconstitutional. Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, stated that the White House cannot arbitrarily deny access to specific journalists based on their reporting once access has been granted to others. CNN, Politico, and MS NOW have all indicated they intend to challenge the restrictions, asserting their constitutional right to report on the government without interference.
Source: BBC News
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