Trump ‘definitely backed into a corner’: Former press secretary

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Monday that President Trump is in a tight spot with his restrictions on media outlets.

“Well, he’s definitely backed into a corner, but he’s not going to admit that. So, to answer your question, yes, he’s going to continue to double down, which I think he already did with that post talking about, you know, that they’re going to appeal this — the case that’s going on Wednesday,” Grisham told CNN’s Erin Burnett on “OutFront.”

“I think he’s going to rely on appealing until he gets to the Supreme Court, thinking that maybe they’re going to be the ones who kind of side with him,” she added.

Trump denied on Monday that he was “instituting an assault” against the press after he barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage.

“The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, stating his administration was “instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS.”

“It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!” he continued.

All three outlets are now suing the White House to regain their access. They’ve been supported by much of the rest of the White House media, including the network pool reporters, who have said they will not provide a video pool for Trump until CNN’s access is restored. CNN is one of the “five families” that provide the video pool, along with NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox News.

The outlets banned by Trump are widely expected to win in court on constitutional grounds.

“They have drawn a great Judge, for them,” Trump said of U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee who will oversee the case. Trump vowed to appeal any decision that goes against him.

“In other words, almost without question and, as usual, we’ll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown ‘sources,’ shouldn’t be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World,” Trump said on Truth Social.

The president could not be heard in live footage during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday debuting the new South Lawn helipad at the White House.

While the president could be seen cutting a ribbon on a walkway for the helipad, as well as talking with construction workers, his words were not audible.

A host for the conservative outlet Newsmax noted in their coverage of the event that a microphone wasn’t there because the pool cameras were not at the event.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.