The White House continued to face mounting pressure on Saturday after claims it has violated the First Amendment after banning journalists from MS NOW, CNN and Politico and confiscating their press passes.
The White House Correspondents’ Association has called for reporters’ access to be restored.
On Saturday morning MSNOW reporter Akayla Gardner, CNN’s Betsy Klein, and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett were denied entry into the White House and had their credentials confiscated.
“MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalists in our democracy,” the network said.
CNN called the ban “an illegal assault” on its constitutional rights, while Politico said it would “vigorously defend” its journalists and its First Amendment rights.
Gardner said her badge did not work when she arrived at the White House on Saturday.
“The officer asked me to hand over my badge,” Gardner said on air. “He said that it was disabled. I asked why I was not able to get inside. He said it was above him.”
“The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” MS NOW said in a statement posted on X.
CNN confirmed Saturday that its journalists were denied access.
“We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hinderance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right,” the outlet said in a statement posted on X.
“We will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account, and we will continue to report on the actions and processes of this administration without fear or favor,” the statement added.
A senior White House official defended Trump’s ban to NBC News on Saturday, saying, “As the President said, for far too long Fake News outlets have been peddling lies about him and his Administration. And that is a great disservice to the American people and tears at the fabric of our Democracy.”
