President Donald Trump announced a decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds. In a Truth Social post, he cited their ongoing publication of ‘fake news’ as the reason for the action. During an Oval Office briefing, Trump expressed frustration with the cumulative negative stories from these outlets over the years.

Trump denied intentions to intimidate the press. He faced questions from reporters about the impact on press freedom, reaffirming his position. CNN has been part of a rotating pool of five networks, including Fox News, that accompany the president globally. Despite the ban, CNN had been chosen to lead network pool coverage at the United Nations General Assembly.

Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders attended the Oval Office meeting, focusing on healthcare, and defended Trump’s openness to the press. She refuted claims of opposing a free press, highlighting the ease of access to Trump’s administration.

Previous attempts to block media outlets have faced legal challenges, with federal judges preventing such actions. Trump argued against what he termed continuous ‘fake news,’ suggesting a right to limit access for these organizations.

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy noted that CNN continued its live broadcasts from media row, even after the ban announcement. CNN released a statement defending its right to report, underscoring constitutional protections. They warned that the ban, if enacted, would violate those rights. Politico echoed similar sentiments about maintaining fair reporting and defending First Amendment rights.

MS NOW chose not to comment on the situation. Joseph A. Wulfsohn, a media reporter for Fox News Digital, covers this story.