CNN, MS NOW and Politico lose access to the White House

What happened at the entrance

The measure comes against the backdrop of a long-simmering conflict between parts of the U.S. government and several major newsrooms. In Washington, speculation had been mounting in recent weeks about a possible harder line against media outlets perceived – from the perspective of those around U.S. President Donald Trump – as insufficiently critical of the opposition. The White House itself has so far not commented publicly on the individual bans in detail.

Background of the conflict

The affected broadcasters and publications are among the country's highest-reach media. CNN and Politico have long-standing Washington bureaus and have covered the White House beat for decades. MS NOW, previously known under other names, is also among the regularly accredited news organizations at U.S. government press conferences.

The news prompted immediate reactions in Washington. Journalists' associations and newsrooms criticized the move as an infringement on press freedom. Democratic politicians also expressed concern about the development, pointing to the importance of free media access to the center of government. It remains unclear whether other media companies are or will be affected by comparable measures.

It is also unclear how long the ban will last. The affected newsrooms announced they would examine legal and editorial steps to restore access. In the meantime, they intend to continue covering the White House remotely and through alternative contacts. Industry observers see the incident as the most far-reaching escalation so far in the relationship between the U.S. government and parts of the capital press.

Reactions from Washington

The measure is part of a series of disputes between the White House and individual media outlets. In recent months, there have already been arguments over the allocation of seats in the press room, the accreditation of individual journalists and access to government officials. Observers see this as a signal that the White House intends to exert greater control over which media receive direct access to the center of government in the future.

International press associations and media rights organizations watched the developments closely. They pointed to the constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of reporting in the United States. Developments in Washington are also perceived outside the U.S. as an indicator of the state of press freedom in the country.

Legal situation and next steps

The White House has not substantively responded to inquiries about the specific cases so far. Nor has any official information been provided about the legal basis for the access revocations. The newsrooms of CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced that they would continue their coverage of the White House under the changed conditions and are considering legal action.