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

The US Justice Department stated on Tuesday that CNN, MSNBC, and Politico may be denied access to restricted areas within the White House, at the discretion of President Donald Trump, ahead of an impending court hearing. The three prominent news organizations filed a lawsuit against the ban, arguing that it infringes upon the First Amendment's protection of a free press.

Trump had ordered the outlets to be barred from the presidential mansion for distributing what he referred to as "fake news." A district judge set a hearing for Wednesday to address the complaint. According to a court filing, the Justice Department asserts that Trump has the authority to control journalists' access to certain presidential areas, such as the Oval Office.

The filing emphasizes that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right. The Justice Department cited numerous "reporting incidents" by the outlets, alleging they threatened national security and spread falsehoods. Specifically, CNN's letter mentioned a story about Trump's plans to construct a bunker below the East Wing ballroom, which disclosed top-secret construction details, and several stories about the Iran war.

The outlets argued in their lawsuit that the ban is a direct assault on the First Amendment and a blatant violation of fundamental constitutional principles.