Sen. John Barrasso declined to call President Trump's decision to bar Politico, MS NOW and CNN from White House coverage unconstitutional, repeatedly saying, "I believe the press has an obligation to report fairly." He compared the move to Trump's past social media suspensions and avoided a direct endorsement of the ban. Barrasso also predicted the dispute would not materially affect voters ahead of the midterms.
Top Senate Republican Says "No" — Won't Call Trump's White House Media Ban Unconstitutional
Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Staff / Getty Images)
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) declined to label President Donald Trump's decision to bar reporters from Politico, MS NOW and CNN as unconstitutional during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, repeatedly answering simply: "No, I believe the press has an obligation to report fairly." Press freedom groups have argued the move may violate legal protections for journalists, but Barrasso signaled he disagrees with that assessment.
What He Said On Meet The Press
When asked directly whether the media exclusions violated the Constitution, Barrasso gave a one-word reply and emphasized the press's responsibilities. Pressed a second time about whether he supported the ban itself, he avoided a direct yes-or-no and reiterated that Americans "respect and value the freedom of the press — it's in the Constitution." He then compared the episode to the former president's suspensions from social platforms, saying, "He was banned from Twitter. He was banned from Facebook, and I didn't see people come to his defense. So it goes both ways."
On a follow-up specifically invoking the First Amendment, Barrasso again stressed his view that "the press has an obligation to report fairly." He also downplayed the political impact of the dispute, saying the controversy was unlikely to move voters in the midterm elections just weeks away.
Background
President Trump announced the restrictions on Truth Social, writing that the action was taken "as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" and warning that "other outlets" could face similar treatment. The announcement reignited debate over press access and free-speech protections, with press watchdogs arguing that excluding credentialed outlets from White House coverage raises serious constitutional and legal concerns.
Trump on Truth Social: "as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!"
Barrasso's remarks underscore the tension within the Republican Party between defending press freedoms in principle and criticizing media coverage perceived as unfair. The dispute is likely to continue as journalists, legal observers and political leaders weigh the First Amendment implications of excluding news organizations from official coverage.
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