WASHINGTON: The US President Donald Trump has announced that he was banning three major news outlets – CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House for allegedly “reporting FAKE NEWS”.
The latest move is likely to be challenged as conflicting with the US Constitution’s First Amendment guarantees of free speech and a free press. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he is “immediately” banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico saying these outlets “constantly write or report fiction or lies” about his administration, although he provided no examples.
Trump later called it a “very simple ban”, but did not explain how it would work. It is unclear whether employees of those outlets would be prevented from entering the White House grounds. CNN swiftly slammed the move as an “illegal assault” on American press freedoms. The move by Trump is likely to be met with legal challenges.
“We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” the CNN statement said. “Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”
Politico also released a statement, saying it “will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones.
“We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.” MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, declined to comment. In his post Trump said: “Media outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration or the United States of America. Other news outlets to follow.”
The post did not mention specific stories or reporting that led to the move. Asked about the ban in the Oval Office, Trump said that there was “no reason” for the announcement being made on Friday afternoon. “It’s really just cumulative stories over the last few years,” he said. “You get sick of it.”
