WASHINGTON
The White House denied access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Saturday, following through on President Donald Trump's announcement to ban the outlets from the building. The administration confiscated and disabled credentials for named reporters, blocking their entry to the complex.
Trump told reporters the decision stemmed from accumulated coverage over two years, not a single article. "You get sick of it," he said, arguing that while media organizations retain the right to publish, they are not entitled to White House access. He signaled additional outlets could follow.
Republicans quickly backed the move. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Trump "is absolutely within his rights" to prohibit access for organizations he believes "are not behaving in good faith as journalists."
Right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson celebrated the decision, drawing a parallel to Trump's ban from social media platforms after Jan. 6. "No one is infringing on their ability to do reporting," Johnson said.
The campaign for Republican Mike Rogers, running for a competitive Michigan Senate seat with Trump's endorsement, appeared to distance itself from the White House decision.
Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, called the action "textbook viewpoint discrimination." Brown noted courts have historically disallowed this type of First Amendment violation.
