CNN, MS NOW, Politico say their journalists have been denied access to the White House

The White House denied CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists access to its grounds Saturday, the networks announced, a day after President Trump said he was banning them from the premises after accusing them of producing “purposefully negative stories.”

“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 wrote in a statement posted just after 8 a.m. Saturday . “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.”

At around 10 a.m., CNN also confirmed its journalists were denied access to the White House grounds — denouncing the ban as an “illegal assault” on its press freedom.

“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,” CNN said in its statement. “We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government.”

Shortly after, Politico’s morning newsletter, “Politico Playbook,” shared a statement from the publication’s editor-in-chief, Jonathan Greenberger, confirming one of its reporters was also not allowed to enter the White House.

“A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter. Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House,” Greenberger said in a statement, which was first emailed to the newsroom.

Trump announced his decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House “effective immediately” in a Friday Truth Social post, accusing the three outlets of reporting false information about him and his administration.

“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,” he wrote, adding that additional news organizations could also be blocked.

MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner said her press badge had been disabled when she arrived at the White House for work Saturday morning; Gardner delivered the report live from outside the grounds.

She said she that, while she cleared initial security checkpoints, White House personnel stopped her when she attempted to scan her badge to enter.

“It did not work. There was a red beeping light,” Gardner said .

The MS NOW reporter said an officer then took the badge and told her it had been disabled. When asked why, Gardner said the officer told her the decision was “above him.”

Her White House credentials were confiscated, but a producer’s badge was still active, Gardner added.

Multiple free-speech groups and press organizations, including Fox News contributors , denounced the ban — arguing it violated these outlets’ constitutional right to press freedom.

MS NOW, CNN and Politico all pushed back after Trump announced his ban, each issuing responses condemning the restrictions.

Trump has long feuded with CNN, recently calling the network “crooked as hell” and “a very corrupt organization” in a June Oval Office conference. He also frequently criticizes one of its White House correspondents, Kaitlan Collins, who he described as a “corrupt reporter” with “hatred in her eyes” during the same meeting.

“Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement.

In Politico’s statement, Greenberger similarly cited constitutionality concerns with the ban, saying, “We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”

Trump also accused Politico of receiving $8 million in government subsidies for its “Politico Pro subscription,” something the outlet has denied.

“The claims that POLITICO received government subsidies are false and have been thoroughly debunked,” Politico said in a statement.