WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Friday that the White House would exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico over coverage he describes as “fake news.”
Trump announced the move on social media before defending it during an Oval Office healthcare event. The Associated Press reported that he also indicated other organisations could face similar restrictions.
The president specifically mentioned The New York Times and The Washington Post while speaking to reporters. He argued that the White House should keep away news organisations that publish coverage he considers false.
The announcement raises questions about press access and First Amendment protections. The AP noted that CNN traditionally participates in the five-network television pool that provides independent coverage of presidential activities.
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Trump faced a related court dispute during his first term after the White House revoked CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials in November 2018.
A federal judge temporarily restored Acosta’s access after finding that CNN was likely to succeed on a due-process claim. Court records show the White House later established written conduct rules for press conferences.
The current Trump White House media ban remains separate from the 2018 case, and courts have not yet ruled on the legal status of the newly announced exclusions.
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Trump told reporters Friday that he wanted more truthful coverage and praised Breitbart and, to a lesser extent, Fox News while criticising other outlets.
