CNN and MS NOW Reporters Barred From White House After Trump Announces Ban

On Saturday, journalists from the MS NOW network were denied entry to the White House grounds following President Donald Trump's announcement of a ban on their organization, along with CNN and Politico. MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner discovered her White House press badge was disabled when she arrived at the White House on Saturday morning.

A security officer later informed her that the decision was "above him". Despite this, a photographer from MS NOW was allowed on the grounds, while one of the network's producers was not. The reasons for the varying access levels remain unclear. MS NOW argued that the White House belongs to the American people and vowed to fight for its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalists in a democracy.

President Trump's decision to ban MS NOW, CNN, and Politico stemmed from their repeated reporting of what he termed "FAKE NEWS" and "FICTION and LIES" during his presidency. Trump cited "cumulative stories" over the past few years as the basis for the ban, without naming any specific reports. He also warned that other media organizations could face similar actions.

CNN and Politico both rejected Trump's claims and asserted their commitment to their "fair and accurate reporting" and their First Amendment rights. This incident adds to the ongoing conflict between Trump and the media over coverage of his administration, which includes restrictions on Associated Press access to certain White House spaces and legal actions against various news outlets, including the BBC, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.