US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are banned from the White House with immediate effect, accusing the outlets of spreading “fake news.”
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”
He added: “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
Speaking later to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the outlets “purposely write negative news.”
“You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news,” he told reporters. “They purposely write negative news, and they do that because they want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration. And honestly, we’ve done a fantastic job.”
Asked about the timing, Trump cited the organisations’ “cumulative” coverage.
A CNN spokesperson rejected the move, saying the network stood by its reporting. “We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government. Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right,” the spokesperson said.
Reporters from the affected outlets remained on White House grounds shortly after the announcement. Legal experts and observers noted that any formal restriction would likely face court challenges under the First Amendment.
