After US President Donald Trump banned three media outlets from covering him and accessing the White House, the media houses have taken the matter to court.
The three outlets sued the Trump administration over the “ban” on their White Hous e access.
That raises a pertinent question: Can a US president ban media outlets from reporting on him and the White House? They have until Friday to object.
The US President said he would bar journalists from these outlets from the White House, citing their reporting as “fake news”. He said that “free press” is something he “cherishes” and reiterated his criticism of “fake news”, calling it “corrupt”, “totally out of control” and a “threat to national security”. The Department of Justice said in a court filing that Trump can “control reporters’ access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office”, according to an AFP report.
Trump has been critical of CNN and its coverage in the past, but on Monday, he took a further step and ‘banned’ the organisation. The court filing said letters explaining the president’s reasons for the ban had been sent to the outlets on Tuesday.
Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” read the joint statement of the three outlets. Because it objected to our reporting, “Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials.
Earlier reporting noted: The Department of Justice said in a court filing that Trump can “control reporters’ access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office. Earlier reporting noted: CNN, MS NOW and Politico can be shut out from areas of the White House at President Donald Trump’s request, the Department of Justice said on Tuesday, a day ahead of a court hearing.
