CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump over White House press ban, citing First Amendment

Four major news organizations, including CNN, MS NOW and Politico, have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration for banning them from the White House. The lawsuit alleges that the ban violates the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech and a free press. The news outlets are seeking a temporary restraining order to block the administration's action.

The lawsuit states that the ban is a direct assault on the First Amendment and threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism. The government, according to the lawsuit, does not decide what the press reports or publishes. Trump announced the ban on social media, stating that the news outlets should not constantly write or report "fiction and lies" about his presidency.

The White House claims that the ban is not an assault on the free press, but rather on "fake news," and a threat to national security. Trump has previously filed lawsuits against other news outlets. The White House has launched a "Trump TV" stream to provide alternative coverage, but a press freedom advocate argues that it amounts to "a steady diet of government propaganda."

The lawsuit comes as the three media organizations are scheduled to cover President Trump's trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The other major TV networks have suspended presidential pool coverage, effectively eliminating a major source of video for White House events.