Pressefreiheit in den USA: Rauswurf aus Weißem Haus: Trumps Streit mit Medien eskaliert

The dispute between US President Donald Trump and major US media outlets intensified following CNN's expulsion from the White House. The affected media outlets, CNN, Politico, and MSNOW, are appealing in court to reclaim their positions at the White House. This conflict extends to other circles, as these TV stations halted their rotation-based coverage of Trump's trips and meetings, in protest of including CNN. As a result, the coverage of Trump's activities might decrease due to the reduced availability of TV material.

The TV broadcasters generally provide their material to other media houses through the so-called pool principle. This pool network comprises TV stations ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC. CNN had intended to accompany Trump on his trip to New York for the United Nations on Monday, but this did not happen. Consequently, other media outlets will not receive video material from the TV pool.

The lawsuit was filed by CNN, Politico, and MSNOW, who claim that the ban threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism without government interference. They aim to defend the principle that the government should not decide what the press reports or publishes.

The media's lawsuit is a swift motion, meaning a court must handle the case promptly. The White House denied Trump's access on Friday, stating that the three media outlets were immediately banned from the White House premises. Trump accused them of spreading false information. Critics see this as an intimidation tactic and an attack on press freedom.

The reason behind Trump's announcement remains unclear. On Saturday, journalists from all three media outlets were barred from the White House grounds, according to the media houses' statements and reports.

CNN is one of the most prominent news networks worldwide. Politico belongs to the portfolio of the German media conglomerate Axel Springer. The timeline for journalists to regain access to the White House premises is uncertain. Trump had not specified a timeframe and even threatened to extend the ban to other media outlets. In a subsequent Truth Social post on Monday, Trump again labeled CNN as "trash," claiming to love the free press but denouncing "fake news" as a cancerous phenomenon in the US.

He even hinted at a threat to national security. Such arguments are often made by Trump when issuing legally contested orders. On Sunday, Trump posted a provocative image on his Truth Social account depicting three trash cans labeled with the names of the three media outlets, placed in front of the White House.