One day after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the restriction of access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, the three mentioned media outlets reported blocks to their journalists’ access.
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The measure was announced on September 18 on the social networks of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement proponent, as a result of a “constant reporting of fake news”.
“The media should not be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies while covering the President of the United States, the Trump administration, or the United States,” Trump stated, emphasizing that the ban would have an immediate effect.
Thus, during the morning of this Saturday, the three mentioned media outlets reported that their workers were unable to enter the U.S. presidential palace.
From MS NOW they accused this impediment on their social networks and stated in a communiqué that “the White House belongs to all Americans and the decisions made inside are funded by our taxes.”
They also mentioned that they intend to take all necessary steps to defend their rights according to the essential role of journalism in democracy and the First Amendment. The latter, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, protects the rights to freedom of expression and press, among other aspects.
“We will continue reporting on the President, the administration, and the issues that impact the American people,” declared the channel.
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The editor-in-chief of Politico, Jonathan Greenberger, recounted in an email to his media’s press room that the Secret Service prohibited correspondent Cheyenne Haslett from entering the government building, in addition to confiscating her access pass.
“We will vigorously defend our rights under the First Amendment,” the editor concluded.
For her part, journalist Betsy Klein from CNN recounted in a video how she was denied access to the presidential palace and had her pass revoked.
“Many First Amendment experts, lawyers, and legal experts we have heard from on CNN have stated that this ban is possibly unconstitutional. We will continue our work, whether inside the White House grounds or outside.”
From their media outlet, they pointed out in a statement that their mission to report on the U.S. administration will continue beyond “any attempt to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings.”
Along the same lines, they mentioned their “right under the U.S. Constitution” to practice journalism “without obstacles or government interference,” and that “this blockade is an illegal assault on this fundamental right.”
