Trump bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Friday he was immediately banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, escalating his long-running confrontation with news organisations he has repeatedly accused of unfair coverage.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the three outlets of constantly reporting what he described as “fiction or lies” about his administration. He did not provide specific examples to support the accusation.

Trump later described the measure as a “very simple ban” but gave no details on how it would be enforced. It was not immediately clear whether journalists and other employees of the organisations would be barred from entering the White House grounds or prevented from attending official events.

CNN condemned the move, calling it an “illegal assault” on press freedoms in the United States. The network said it stood behind its White House team and its reporting, which it described as fair and accurate.

Reporters from CNN and Politico remained on the White House grounds shortly after Trump's announcement, suggesting that the practical implications of the proposed ban were not immediately clear.

A CNN crew was also travelling with Vice President JD Vance to and from an event in Iowa, according to the network. The announcement is likely to trigger legal challenges and further debate over the relationship between the Trump administration and the US media.

GAROWE ONLINE