In his latest attack on the US constitution’s first amendment and the press, Donald Trump has announced that he is banning outlets CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House over their coverage.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday afternoon, the US president said he was expelling the news outlets over what he called their “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” and threatened that bans for others outlets could follow.
He went on: “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 Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
Since returning to office, Trump has overseen an unprecedented restriction of access for major traditional news media at the White House, including the Associated Press, which was banned from press pool events in the Oval Office and on Air Force One after it continued to use Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America in its coverage.
The Pentagon also attempted to introduce a new press policy to restrict the ability of journalists to gather and report on sensitive information, which culminated in a mass walkout of news media outlets who refused to sign the pledge. A federal judge later ruled the policy was unconstitutional.
The president has also launched high-profile legal battles with major outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC News and the BBC.
