CNN and MS NOW say reporters denied White House access after Trump banned some media outlets

Journalists from CNN and MS NOW were turned away from the White House after US President Donald Trump announced he was barring certain media outlets from the premises. An MS NOW reporter and a photographer attempted entry on Saturday morning, but their identification badges were rejected and confiscated by a security officer. CNN confirmed that one of its reporters also had her badge seized.

President Trump had announced earlier that Friday he was barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing their reporting of "fiction or lies" about his administration. Press freedom advocates criticized the move as unconstitutional. The officer told MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner her badge was disabled, although she was not given a reason why her colleague's badge was still functional.

Similarly, CNN reporter Betsy Klein was informed by a Secret Service agent that her badge had been deactivated. An MS NOW spokesperson stated that the White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made within are funded by tax dollars, and that the organization intends to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism in democracy.

The ban has drawn criticism from press freedom groups, who argue it is illegal and unconstitutional. Legal experts predict the ban will be challenged and likely overturned by the courts. This latest action by the Trump administration adds to a series of moves targeting media outlets the president deems critical of him, including legal actions against publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.