Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House press pool

President Donald Trump said on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would no longer be allowed inside the White House, accusing the outlets of publishing "fake news" in a social-media post. He added that the decision was based on a cumulative record of coverage rather than any single incident.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he does not have to let the outlets into "the people's house," but did not specify how the ban would be enforced. Legal scholars noted that while presidents have broad discretion over access to certain events, broader exclusions from generally available press facilities could face strong constitutional challenges.

"We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government," CNN said in a statement, calling the proposed ban an illegal assault on a protected right.

Freedom of the Press Foundation’s chief of advocacy, Seth Stern, described the action as "a blatant violation of the First Amendment," and Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute said the press pool is a public forum that cannot be closed on the basis of viewpoint.

The ban comes weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, as Republicans seek to retain narrow majorities in Congress. Polls show declining public support for the president and his party amid ongoing criticism of the Iran conflict and rising energy costs.

Democratic Representative Frank Pallone labeled the move censorship, saying, "If Trump thinks banning media outlets from the White House will make his presidency seem less like a failure, he's delusional."