The US Justice Department has filed court papers defending the White House's revocation of press credentials for CNN, Politico and MSNBC, accusing the outlets of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods" and publishing reports that threatened national security. The outlets have sued, arguing the move violates the First Amendment, and 49 media organisations filed a brief in support. A judge will decide on Wednesday whether to temporarily lift the ban while the constitutional challenge moves forward.
Justice Department Defends White House Ban on CNN, Politico and MSNBC Ahead of Court Hearing
A judge will rule on Wednesday whether to lift Donald Trump's ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW entering the White House [EPA]
The US Justice Department has filed court papers defending the White House's decision to revoke press credentials for three news organisations — CNN, Politico and MSNBC — accusing them of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods" and publishing reports that it says "threatened national security." The filings were submitted as the administration prepares to defend the move in a District of Columbia court.
Last week, President Donald Trump revoked the organisations' White House credentials after accusing them of spreading "fake news." The outlets immediately sued, arguing the credential revocations violated the First Amendment; they also asked the court to restore access while the legal challenge proceeds.
In its filing, the Justice Department says the White House provided the three outlets with a list of specific "reporting incidents" that prompted the action. The submission cites several stories about construction and security at the White House — including reporting about a purported security bunker, coverage of plans for a new ballroom, and stories about an internal investigation into leaks of sensitive information.
The filing reiterates the administration's position that "access to the White House is a privilege, not a right," and argues the credential revocations were a defensible response to reporting it contends was materially false or harmful.
Outlets Push Back
The three news organisations maintain the move violates their constitutional rights. In a joint statement announcing the lawsuit, the outlets said:
"Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."
Forty-nine media organisations — including CBS News, The New York Times and Fox News — filed a supporting brief urging the court to protect media access and cautioning against government punishment of critical reporting.
Industry Response And Escalation
Major television networks withdrew from the White House media pool — the cooperative arrangement that shares video and still images of the president — in protest of the credentialing decisions. In response to the dispute, the White House launched a continuous streaming feed branded as "Trump TV," featuring clips and coverage of presidential events.
Tensions were visible on the diplomatic stage as well: before his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump publicly confronted CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, saying, "I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me. You should not be here covering me." Collins later told viewers the network had made no pledge to stop covering him. The president has continued to criticise CNN, Politico and MSNBC on social media, at times calling their reporting "treasonous."
What Comes Next
A judge is scheduled to consider whether to issue a temporary order lifting the bans while the case proceeds to a full hearing. The court's decision will determine whether the outlets regain access to White House grounds pending further litigation.
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