CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asserted that Natalie Harp , a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, presented the US President with media coverage that subsequently prompted the White House to revoke CNN, MSNBC, and Politico’s access credentials, a new report claims.
Harp has maintained a consistent position within Trump’s inner circle throughout the years. Her connection to the President has drawn increased attention following Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff’s remarks during his reelection campaign, in which he specifically referenced her while delivering criticism directed at the POTUS. Three news organizations that were prohibited from accessing the White House by Trump have now initiated a First Amendment legal action to regain their credentials. Following confirmation of the lawsuit, Trump posted a statement on Truth Social Monday morning, stating, “The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.
Bryan Boughton, the director of the Fox News Washington bureau and serving as the current television pool chair responsible for White House coverage, stated via email on Monday: “This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President.” Trump’s principal advisers, such as chief of staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance, were absent from the White House during Trump’s decision-making process on Friday, according to CNN.
Trump was questioned by members of the press regarding the rationale for implementing the ban. In his response, the president clarified that he was not reacting to any particular news story, but rather stated, “it’s really just cumulative stories over the last two years. You get sick of it.”
