White House bars CNN, MS Now and Politico reporters after Trump ban

The White House on Saturday denied access to journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico, following through with US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would ban them from the building’s grounds.

All three news outlets separately said their teams’ press passes were ‌confiscated on Saturday morning when their journalists went to the White House.

They have signalled that they may contest the ban on the grounds that it conflicts with the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press.

A CNN statement on Saturday called the ban “an illegal assault” on its constitutional right to do journalism without interference from the government. In separate statements, MS Now and Politico said they ⁠would “defend our First Amendment rights”.