Trump administration accuses banned media outlets of ‘falsehoods’ ahead of court hearing

The US Justice Department has filed legal documents accusing three media outlets that have been barred from the White House of spreading "verifiable falsehoods" and reporting content that "threatened national security" as it prepared to defend its decision in court. President Donald Trump had previously banned CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House, claiming they were spreading "fake news".

The three news organizations jointly filed a lawsuit, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment rights, which protect freedom of the press. Ahead of the ban, the Justice Department provided the outlets with a list of "reporting incidents" that included stories about construction at the White House, a security bunker, a new ballroom, and an internal leak investigation.

The court filing states that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right. The media organizations contend that the ban infringes on their freedom of the press and threatens public access to independent journalism. Major television networks have also withdrawn from a media-sharing arrangement, known as the pool, in protest of the ban.

In response, the White House launched its own streaming channel, Trump TV, which provides a continuous feed of clips featuring the president.