Trump can deny journalists’ White House access, says US justice department

The US Justice Department clarified on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has the authority to deny access to journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico within the White House, citing their reported distribution of "fake news." These three major news outlets had filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the ban on their presence in the presidential mansion violated their First Amendment rights, which protect freedom of the press.

A US district judge scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to address their complaint. According to the Justice Department's legal argument, while access to the White House is a privilege rather than an inherent right, the president retains the power to control reporters' access to certain restricted areas, such as the Oval Office. The department added that letters outlining Trump's rationale for the ban had been sent to the outlets on Tuesday, with their response due by Friday.

The letters cited numerous reporting incidents by the outlets that allegedly threatened national security and spread misinformation. CNN was previously denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday, and their passes were confiscated. In their legal documents, the three outlets demanded a temporary restraining order against the ban, asserting that it directly attacked the First Amendment and violated fundamental constitutional principles.

Trump, during a recent press conference, seemed to suggest that CNN should not cover him outside of the White House, further escalating the conflict between the administration and the media. Trump has a history of criticizing the press, frequently labeling it as the "enemy of the people." However, this particular ban is occurring at a critical juncture for Trump, as his popularity has hit record lows, his Republican Party faces a potential loss of congressional control in the upcoming midterm elections, and the ongoing Middle East conflict shows no signs of resolution.