CNN, MS NOW and Politico to sue to restore White House access

The news organizations of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have announced their intention to sue the Trump administration over the ban imposed on their access to the White House. The ban was instituted by President Trump in a recent post on Truth Social, citing unfavorable coverage of his administration. The three outlets were denied White House access on Saturday and had their press passes revoked.

In a joint statement, the news organizations expressed their intention to sue in order to immediately restore their access to the White House, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. The legal motion states that the ban represents a direct assault on the First Amendment.

President Trump dismissed the ban, stating there is "no reason" for it and suggesting that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were writing "fake news." The President also stated that he has the right to restrict access to the White House, likening it to entering someone's home.

Legal experts have called the ban "flatly unconstitutional," with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press President Bruce Brown stating that the decision to block the outlets from White House grounds is "textbook viewpoint discrimination" and will be quickly struck down by the courts if challenged.

The Trump administration's attempts to restrict media outlets are not new. Last year, the administration barred The Associated Press from attending certain White House events after they refused to conform to the President's proclamation that the Gulf of Mexico was now the "Gulf of America." The AP sued on First Amendment grounds, and while a federal judge initially ruled in their favor, an appeals court later allowed the ban to take effect.