By Scott Nover, washingtonpost.com, 9-18-26
President Donald Trump said he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House for reporting what he called “fake news,” breaking with long-running protocol for relations between the executive office and the press.
Court precedent in press-access cases has largely held that while the government does not have to open its doors to the press, once it does, it cannot decide whether a journalist or outlet gets access based on the content of their reporting.
“A ban like this would be flatly unconstitutional,” Bruce D. Brown, president of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, wrote in a statement. “The First Amendment is clear that once the White House invites in some journalists, it can’t ban others because it doesn’t like their reporting. This is textbook viewpoint discrimination and will be quickly struck down by the courts if challenged.” » Read More