“An illegal attack” on the constitutional rights of the press. Cnn reacts this way to the decision of President Donald Trump to ban access to the White House to journalists from the network, Ms Now, and Politico. Today, September 19, reporters from the three outlets were effectively stopped at the entrance: some even had their passes revoked.
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The newsrooms responded by promising not to back down. Cnn announced it will continue to follow the Trump presidency “intensely.” Ms Now stated it will take “all necessary steps” to defend its rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and “the essential role of independent journalism” in American democracy. Politico, through director Jonathan Greenberger, assured it will defend its constitutional rights “determinedly” and continue to report on the administration’s activities.
The White House media association asks Trump to lift the ban
Alongside the three outlets, the White House Correspondents’ Association also took a stand. President Jacqui Heinrich reminded that the freedom of the press protected by the Constitution “does not depend” on whether the president likes the coverage of a news outlet, agrees with what it publishes, or approves the questions from its journalists. The issue, she emphasized, concerns not only the rights of reporters but also the right of American citizens to receive a “complete and independent” account of the decisions of those occupying the White House.
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The White House correspondents’ association asked Donald Trump to “immediately” lift the ban imposed against journalists from Cnn, Ms Now, and Politico. “The decision to revoke access to journalists violates the First Amendment,” reads a statement from President Jacqui Heinrich. “The implications go far beyond these outlets: a criterion used to exclude a news organization because of its editorial line could be applied in the future to any other outlet. The American people, through a free and independent press, must be able to exercise oversight over those elected to power, regardless of whether government officials view such activity favorably.” “The association calls on the administration to immediately restore access to our colleagues,” the statement concludes.
Criticism also came from other major American outlets. New York Times and Washington Post, named by Trump himself among the media that could be targeted in the future, contested the measure as retaliation against journalistic work. Some conservative voices also expressed doubts, arguing that the president should confront hostile media rather than exclude them.
