CNN, MS NOW, Politico Sue Trump Administration Over White House Ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have announced plans to sue the Donald Trump administration after the news organisations were barred from accessing the White House.

The three outlets said on Monday that they had notified the US government of their intention to file a lawsuit, arguing that the decision violated their First Amendment rights.

“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the outlets said in a joint statement.

They added that the White House revoked the credentials of their journalists “without notice or process” because officials objected to their reporting.

“Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” the news organisations said.

Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fiction and lies” in their coverage of the president.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States,” Trump said.

The president did not specify the reports that prompted the decision but warned that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.