Three news organizations sued the White House on Monday after President Donald Trump abruptly revoked their press credentials, and CNN is now reporting that the ban followed a briefing from a White House aide who showed the president clips and a graphic she believed had angered him.
CNN, Politico, and MS NOW filed suit seeking to restore access to the White House grounds after Trump announced Friday, in a post on Truth Social, that all three outlets would be barred “effective immediately.” Trump accused the outlets of “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” and took a specific swipe at Politico over an “illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription” the outlet received from the federal government during the Biden administration, calling it evidence of “corruption.” He also mocked MS NOW, the rebranded MSNBC, over what he described as a “lack of viewership and credibility.”
CNN reported Monday that White House aide Natalie Harp brought Trump a Politico graphic and television clips shortly before he made the decision. Citing people familiar with the matter, CNN said one source believed the Politico graphic in particular had angered the president and played a role in the ban.
The network reported that the announcement caught several Trump advisers off guard, including staff who regularly interact with reporters. CNN also said, citing people familiar with the matter, that the president had grown frustrated with coverage of recent legal and congressional setbacks and with reporting questioning Republicans’ odds in the midterm elections.
Key aides were elsewhere when the ban dropped
According to CNN, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was away from the West Wing when Trump posted the announcement. Vice President JD Vance was also out of Washington at the time, returning from a campaign stop in Iowa.
The ban took effect Saturday. Journalists from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW were turned away at the White House gates, and CNN reporter Betsy Klein had her credential confiscated, the network said.
Outlets call it a press-freedom threat
The three organizations argue in their lawsuit that the White House pulled their credentials in retaliation for their coverage, without warning or any process to contest the decision.
“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,” the outlets said in a joint statement.
Trump has said the outlets could be allowed back if they “could straighten themselves out.” The lawsuit is now pending as the outlets seek to have their access to the White House restored.
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