White House defends Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico in court filing
Summary
The White House, under President Trump, has defended his recent ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, asserting that access to the White House is a "privilege" not guaranteed by the First Amendment. In a court filing, White House officials claimed these outlets breached conduct standards by spreading "verifiable falsehoods" and revealing sensitive information, justifying their expulsion from White House grounds. This move follows Trump's public announcement of the ban, where he criticized the outlets for what he termed "FICTION and LIES." Historically, presidents have had the authority to decide which journalists may access the White House, a practice supported by legal precedent that classifies access decisions as part of executive privilege rather than viewpoint discrimination.