The Latest: CNN, MS NOW and Politico say they’re suing over denied White House access

Washington, January 20, 2021: Major news organizations CNN, MSNBC and Politico have announced they have informed President Donald Trump's administration of their intention to sue over being denied access to the White House. Journalists from the three prominent news outlets were barred from the premises on Saturday, following President Trump's assertion that he was excluding them due to the publication of "fake news."

This move marked a significant escalation in Trump's ongoing campaign - both legally and administratively - to curtail news coverage by journalists he deemed unfavorable, presenting a crucial test of the First Amendment rights in the United States. On Friday, Trump had stated his intention to ban all three outlets due to their unfavorable reporting.

White House reporters from CNN and MSNBC, Betsy Klein and Akayla Gardner respectively, went live to reveal they had been denied entry, with their press badges deactivated upon arrival at the White House. Shortly after, Politico's White House correspondent, Cheyenne Haslett, confirmed she too had been barred and her badge confiscated.

All three news organizations had previously signaled their intent to pursue legal action, asserting they would vigorously protect their First Amendment rights. "Without prior notice or due process, the White House terminated our journalists' credentials, objecting to our reporting," the outlets stated jointly on social media platform X. "Unaddressed, this endangers press freedom and the public's entitlement to independent journalism, free from governmental interference."