CNN, Politico and MS Now take on Trump: ‘We will defend press freedom’

“An unlawful attack” on the press’s constitutional rights. CNN has reacted in this way to the decision by President Donald Trump to ban journalists from the broadcaster, from MS Now and from Politico from entering the White House. Today, 19 September, reporters from the three organisations were effectively stopped at the entrance: some even had their passes withdrawn.

The news organisations responded by promising not to back down. CNN announced that it would continue to cover the Trump presidency ‘intensively’. Ms Now has stated that she will take ‘all necessary steps’ to defend her rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and ‘the essential role of independent journalism’ in American democracy. Politico, through its editor Jonathan Greenberger, has given assurances that it will “resolutely” defend its constitutional rights and continue to report on the administration’s activities.

The White House Correspondents’ Association has also sided with the three news organisations. Its president, Jacqui Heinrich, pointed out that the freedom of the press, as protected by the Constitution, ‘does not depend’ on whether the President likes a news organisation’s coverage, agrees with what it publishes, or approves of the questions asked by its journalists. The issue, she emphasised, concerns not only the rights of reporters, but also the right of American citizens to receive a ‘comprehensive and independent’ account of the decisions made by those in the White House.

The White House Correspondents’ Association has called on Donald Trump to ‘immediately’ lift the ban imposed on journalists from CNN, MSNBC and Politico. ‘The decision to revoke journalists’ access violates the First Amendment,’ reads a statement from the association’s president, Jaquie Heinrich. ‘The implications go far beyond these organisations: a criterion used to exclude a news organisation because of its editorial line could be applied in future to any other organisation. The American people, through a free and independent press, must be able to hold those elected to power to account, regardless of whether government officials welcome such activity.” “The association calls on the administration to restore access for our colleagues immediately,” the statement concludes.

Criticism has also come from other major American newspapers. The New York Times and The Washington Post – which Trump himself has singled out as media outlets that could be targeted in the future – have condemned the measure as retaliation against journalistic work. Some conservative voices have also expressed concerns, arguing that the President should engage with hostile media outlets rather than shut them out.