'Will not be deflected from our duty': CNN holds ground after Trump ban, no access to White House

CNN issued a statement after its journalists were denied access to the White House grounds, saying the network would continue reporting on the US government despite what it described as attempts to restrict its access.“CNN’s mission to report on the US 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,” the network said.CNN said it has a right under the US Constitution to carry out its reporting “without hindrance or interference from the government” and called the ban an “illegal assault” on that right.“We will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account,” CNN said, adding that it would continue covering the administration “without fear or favor”.“CNN stands fully behind our White House team,” the network said.The statement came a day after President Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be banned from the White House. Trump accused the three outlets of repeatedly reporting what he called “FAKE NEWS”.In a Truth Social post, Trump said media organisations “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES” while covering the president.Asked about the decision in the Oval Office, Trump said it was based on “cumulative stories over the last few years”. He did not identify a specific report that prompted the action and warned that other news organisations could face similar restrictions.The move is the latest development in Trump’s wider conflict with news organisations over their coverage of his administration.Earlier, the administration restricted Associated Press access to certain White House spaces after the news agency declined to use the administration’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.Trump has also taken legal action against several media organisations, including the BBC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, accusing them of defamation.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.