CNN, MS Now and Politico sue Trump, challenging White House ban

CNN, MSNBC (MS Now) and Politico have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration for banning them from the White House grounds. The news outlets argue that the ban violates their First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to block the ban in federal court in Washington, D.C., with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The joint statement from the outlets emphasizes that the ban "could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment" and threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism. Trump announced the ban on social media on Friday, stating that the outlets should not be able to write or report "FICTION and LIES" about him.

He defended the ban in subsequent posts, claiming it is an attack on "FAKE NEWS" and a threat to national security. The ban affects the White House television pool, which is made up of five major TV networks, including CNN. The networks have suspended presidential pool coverage as a result of the ban, leaving limited video coverage of the president's events.

The lawsuit was filed by CNN within minutes of Trump's announcement, with MS Now and Politico joining the legal action shortly after. Trump's decision to ban the outlets comes amid his ongoing criticism of the media and his attempts to limit their access to the White House. The suit was assigned to US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who previously ruled against Trump in a similar case involving CNN correspondent Jim Acosta.