Trump Says He Is Banning CNN, Politico, MS NOW From White House

President Donald Trump said he is banning news outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, effective immediately, “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”

In a Truth Social post Friday, he baselessly accused the three credible news outlets of reporting falsely on him and his administration, but he did not point to specific coverage examples. He also said bans on more outlets will follow, teeing up further escalation in his ongoing war against press freedom.

At a press conference late Friday afternoon, Trump accused the outlets of being “one-sided” and said, “They purposely write negative news. And they do that because they want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration.”

“It’s really just accumulative stories over the last few years. You get sick of it,” he said in response to a reporter’s question on the timing of his announcement.

Later, asked what the ban would mean in practice, Trump needed clarification on “which ban,” suggesting he had enacted too many to keep tabs on.

“Oh, the ban on the free press, right?” he said. “Very simple ban: I don’t want them in my office. I don’t want them here. I would say the ban would go as far as you can.”

The president insisted during the press conference that the U.S. is thriving, refusing to contend with polls suggesting everyday Americans are seriously struggling economically, particularly since he chose to start a war with Iran.

At another point, Trump responded with sarcasm when a reporter began a question by stating that freedom of the press is enshrined in the First Amendment, saying, “Oh, thank you for telling me.”

When the reporter asked Trump whether he was trying to “intimidate” the press, he replied with a personal insult: “No. I dislike dishonest press, like you. I think you’re terrible.”

CNN reported Friday that its journalists remained at the White House and that there was “no indication” Trump had taken any steps to put the supposed ban in place.

The network said in a statement that it stands behind its “fair and accurate” reporting.

“We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” CNN said, adding that the ban would be an illegal assault on press freedom if enacted.

Politico similarly defended itself.

“Politico will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones,” the outlet said in a statement. “We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”

MS NOW declined HuffPost’s request for comment.

Jacqui Heinrich, Fox News’ senior white house correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, condemned the president’s decision in a statement, saying that press freedom “does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask.”

“This is about more than the rights of journalists,” she continued. “It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office.”

Trump did not say which other outlets he might try to ban from the White House next when a reporter asked, but in his reply, he disparaged both The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The move represents Trump’s latest attack on the free press, which is often likened to the fourth pillar of democracy because it holds the government accountable and keeps the public informed.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon banned journalists who did not comply with new, unprecedented rules.

The White House also previously attempted to ban The Associated Press from accessing the People’s House for coverage. However, a judge ruled that blocking select journalists over their reporting violated the First Amendment.

Late last year, the Trump administration launched a “media offender” website to counter reports and name an offender of the week. The site lists many major news organizations, including ABC News, Fox News and The Washington Post.

And the Federal Communications Commission, run by Trump crony Brendan Carr, has gone after several news organizations, including ABC, CBS and NBC.

The latest attack was met with swift criticism by press freedom defenders.

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said a ban of this nature would be unconstitutional.

“The First Amendment is clear that once the White House invites in some journalists, it can’t ban others because it doesn’t like their reporting,” Brown said in a statement. “This is textbook viewpoint discrimination and will be quickly struck down by the courts if challenged.”

National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. said that “[b]anning news organizations from the White House based on the administration’s disapproval of their coverage is a clear attempt to control which voices are allowed to witness and report on the exercise of presidential power.”

Sara Boboltz contributed reporting.