Three News Outlets Prepare Lawsuit Over White House Access Ban

<p>Three news outlets, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, are preparing to file a lawsuit after their reporters were denied access to the White House under a new ban imposed by President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, announced on Monday, will allege that the Trump administration is violating their First Amendment rights.</p><p>According to a statement from the news outlets, “This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”</p><p>The lawsuit will be filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. Trump first announced the ban on Friday, stating that reporters from the outlets would not be welcome due to their reporting, which he described as “fake news.” Over the weekend, reporters from these outlets began being turned away as their press badges were deactivated.</p><p>On Monday, Trump defended the ban, citing national security concerns. He stated, “The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped,” in a post on Truth Social.</p><p>Trump also suggested that other news outlets might face similar restrictions in the future, stating, “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,” in another post on Truth Social.</p><p>This ban is not the first instance of Trump attempting to limit access for liberal news outlets. During his first term, the White House revoked the credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, which led to a federal judge ordering their restoration after CNN filed a lawsuit. Currently, the administration's restrictions on the Associated Press remain in litigation, with an appeals court allowing some limits to stay in place for now.</p>