Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were turned away from the White House on Saturday after their press credentials were disabled, confiscated or otherwise revoked. The action followed President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that the three organisations would be barred, with Trump accusing them of reporting what he called “fake news”. He has said other outlets could also face bans.
CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner said on air that they had been denied access. Gardner said an officer confiscated her badge after telling her it had been disabled and that the decision was “above him”. She also said an MS NOW photographer’s badge had been disabled.
Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett was subsequently denied entry, the organisation said. Politico reported that the Secret Service confiscated Haslett’s White House access pass and said it would defend what it called its First Amendment rights. MS NOW likewise said it intended to take “any and all steps necessary” to defend independent journalism.
The White House Correspondents’ Association said constitutional press protections should not depend on whether a president approves of a news organisation’s coverage. CNN media analyst Brian Stelter described the move as “a direct threat to press freedom”, while press-freedom advocates said excluding outlets because of their viewpoints could violate the First Amendment.
The supplied report cites a 1977 federal appeals court ruling, Sherrill v Knight, which held that, once press facilities for credentialed journalists are established, access cannot be denied arbitrarily or without compelling reasons. The ruling also required notice of the factual basis for denial, an opportunity to respond and a final written explanation.
It remains unclear what legal action CNN, MS NOW or Politico may pursue. The report said the dispute could become a broader test of the White House’s authority to control access for journalists covering the administration.