Conservative ‘Squawk Box’ host presses Bessent on media ban: ‘We don’t do this’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the White House’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from the White House grounds Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

Bessent joined the financial news show just days after President Trump banned members of three news agencies from the White House in response to what he deemed “fake news.”

The media organizations said Monday they would sue the White House on grounds that the ban is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Bessent said he was traveling and wasn’t in the room when the decision was made, but that the American people have low trust in the legacy media because of its bias.

“The American people deserve good reporting, I couldn’t agree more.” Bessent said. “We’ll see where this goes.”

Bessent was pressed by anchor Joe Kernen, who said all presidents have had to answer tough questions from the press. He conceded that Republican presidents may have a tougher time with the mainstream media but that Democrats heed questions from right-wing networks like Fox News.

“I just don’t think this is something we do in this country,” Kernen said. “We don’t do this in this country.”

Courts that have considered bans on specific networks or reporters have often ruled in favor of the journalists. In Trump’s first term, the White House revoked the credentials of CNN’s Jim Acosta, who sued and was granted a court order restoring his access to the White House.

Bessent said Trump has been incredibly transparent while in office, with which Kernen agreed, and that the press “just don’t do their job well.” The secretary criticized the media for often asking questions unrelated to the White House’s talking points.

Kernen said just as Bessent was on the show to talk about policy and was now talking about the ban, the press will always question those in power whether their query is on topic or not.

“You can’t control the press,” Kernen said. “The press is going to press, the media is going to media.”

Bessent said the ban will be covered closely by the media, which he hopes will return to “fair and balanced” coverage.