CNN, Politico and MS NOW plan to sue the Trump administration over ban on White House coverage

Media outlets CNN, Politico and MS NOW plan to file a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration after President Donald Trump banned them from covering the White House. The president announced the ban Friday on Truth Social, citing what he said was “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” In a joint statement on social media, the three outlets said they notified the administration Monday that they were filing the suit “to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.” “Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting,” the statement continued. “Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.” The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment on the lawsuit. Trump defended his move in a Monday morning Truth Social post, saying the ban was “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,” he continued. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!” Trump has targeted journalists and outlets he dislikes, but the ban is the most extreme instance so far of the president’s push to hinder press access. Secret Service members turned away reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds and revoked their passes Saturday, prompting backlash from experts and the White House Correspondents’ Association, which called the move unconstitutional. CNN’s and MS NOW’s workspaces in the White House sat empty following their access being withdrawn. The publications have long been part of the White House press pool, a group of media outlets that cover the president. The pool, which is managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association, assigns a small number of reporters each day to cover the president on behalf of the full press corps. The assigned outlet rotates. CNN, now banned, was assigned to pool duty Monday, providing broadcast coverage meant to be shared with all members of the press corps. On Sunday night, the White House sent out its daily media guidance, which did not have any major broadcast outlet included for Monday’s pool duties. Trump has attempted to ban outlets from government spaces before. He barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One and some events after it declined to call the Gulf of Mexico by Trump’s preferred name, the Gulf of America. The AP sued the administration, and the case is ongoing.