According to Deadline, Donald Trump has not backed down from his threat to ban journalists from certain networks from the White House. CNN, Politico, and MS Now journalists were barred from entering the White House on the morning of September 19th. Addtionally, their press passes were reportedly confiscated. The Associated Press, The Washington Post, and The New York Times all issued statements supporting the barred journalists.
CNN quickly released statement about the incident: “Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism. We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right,” according to Deadline.
MS NOW also released a statement mirroring the CNN sentiments, “Earlier this morning, MS NOW journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars. MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy. We stand firmly behind our anchors, our reporters, and our newsroom. We will continue to report on the President, the administration, and the issues that impact the American people,” per Deadline.
Deadline has reported that Politico editor-in-chief sent a memo to staff in support of white house journalist Cheyenne Haslett: “We stand by her and all reporters covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”
The White House correspondents went as far as to call it a violation of the Constitution: “Today’s action revoking access for journalists from CNN, POLITICO, and MSNOW violates the First Amendment. The implications extend beyond these organizations: a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future. The American people, through a free and independent press, must be able to scrutinize those elected to power, regardless of whether government officials view it favorably. That’s why courts have repeatedly held that once the White House provides access to journalists, it cannot deny that access arbitrarily or based on the content of their reporting. The WHCA calls on the administration to immediately restore our colleagues’ access,” per Deadline.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his justification for banning the journalists, “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.
Akayla Garnder white house journalist, went on air to share her experience, “I showed my badge,” she said, “and then when I was inside where we have magnetometers, I attempted to scan my badge, which we have to do to get into the White House grounds. It did not work. A red light was beeping, so the officer asked me to hand over my badge. He said that it was disabled. I asked why I could not get inside. He said it was above him.” An MS Now photographer was also denied access although the producer was allowed to enter.
CNN journalist Betsy Klein echoed a similar experience on air, “I asked him if he could provide an explanation as to why it had been deactivated. He said he had no further information. I asked him once more if he had any more details he could share with me, and he said that I should be referred to the White House Press Office.” Klein also said she did not need direct access to the White House to continue reporting on its affairs.
During the president’s first term, the White House revoked CNN journalist Jim Acosta’s credentials. Similarly, the Associated Press was limited in its access to the Oval Office after a disagreement over renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. In both instances, judges ruled in favor of the press.
Trump-appointed judge Trevor McFadden wrote in his ruling regarding the AP case, “The Court simply holds that under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists — be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere — it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints. The Constitution requires no less,” per Deadline. The decision is currently being appealed.