Trump's ban of three prominent news outlets from White House is in court

Washington — A legal battle unfolded in the nation's capital on Wednesday, as a federal judge heard arguments regarding President Donald Trump's decision to ban three news organizations from White House grounds. The administration maintains that it has the authority to determine who is permitted access to the White House. "Access to the White House is a privilege — not a right," the administration stated in a court filing published late Tuesday.

The White House also argued that the reporting of CNN, MSNBC and Politico poses a threat to national security. Trump's initial remarks about the case were centered on the outlets' negative coverage and claims of "fake news." The case, according to Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, represents an unprecedented move by any president to ban entire news outlets due to unfavorable reporting.