US President Donald Trump on Monday attacked CNN, MS NOW and Politico as “Fake News” outlets after the three news organisations sued his administration over their exclusion from the White House, accusing them of publishing negative and defamatory reports.The three organisations filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington seeking to restore their access to the White House. They argue that the administration’s decision to bar their journalists violates their First Amendment rights and was imposed without a process to challenge the restrictions.The lawsuit follows Trump’s decision to revoke access to the three outlets after criticising their coverage. Their reporters were denied entry to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their press credentials confiscated, according to the news organisations. CNN was also removed from its scheduled television pool duties.In a social media post, Trump defended the restrictions and sharply criticised the three outlets.“As expected, Fake News CNN, Politico (Pay back the 8 Million Dollar contribution made by the US Government to keep them afloat!), and MSNOW (formerly known as MSDNC!), have brought suit to gain access to the White House, and your President, ME! They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet. The Judge’s name is Tim Kelly, and he was, sadly, appointed by “TRUMP.” In other words, almost without question and, as usual, we’ll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown “sources,” shouldn’t be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World. It is called the Oval Office, and it should be treated with Decorum, Respect, and Dignity, not defiled by Third Rate Clowns, who purposefully distort, twist, and degrade with everything they write or publish. Virtually every story about me, or anything having to do with me, is negative, wrong and, in many cases, DANGEROUS for our Country! No matter how GREAT my Achievements, they trivialize and demean. The fact is, I won all seven Swing States, the Popular Vote, the Electoral College (312 to 226), and the Counties throughout America by 86%, and yet it is reported that I get 94% bad publicity. With such a Crooked and Corrupt Press, how did I win in such a LANDSLIDE? It is because the Media has NO credibility, and that is a very bad thing for our Nation! Why should I have to give “access” to such people? Perhaps Judge Kelly could explain that! In any event, I have an obligation to fight for the Success and Safety of our Country. FAKE NEWS IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, and I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that the USA thrives.”
White House access becomes legal battle
The case has been assigned to US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump during his first term. Kelly previously handled CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s legal challenge after the White House revoked his press access in 2018. Kelly ordered the administration to temporarily restore Acosta’s press pass.CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked the court to act quickly and restore their access while the case proceeds. A hearing on their request was scheduled for Wednesday.The organisations said in a joint statement that their lawsuit was intended to defend their First Amendment rights and the principle that the government should not determine what the press reports.“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the outlets said.The dispute has also affected the White House television pool, through which major US networks share coverage of presidential events. ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC joined CNN in announcing that the television pool would stop covering designated presidential events after CNN was removed from its scheduled duties.The news organisations are seeking to restore access while the administration maintains that it has authority over White House access. The legal battle is expected to focus on whether the government can restrict press access based on dissatisfaction with an outlet’s reporting and whether journalists were entitled to notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision.The latest dispute is not the first legal confrontation between the Trump administration and news organisations over press access. The Associated Press has also been involved in litigation after being excluded from certain White House events, while other journalists faced access restrictions during Trump’s first term.
