U.S. – CNN, MSNBC and Politico sue Trump over White House access ban

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (ATSH-DPA) – Three American media organizations, CNN, MSNBC and Politico, plan to sue President Donald Trump over his decision to bar their access to the White House, the outlets announced today in a joint statement.

If unchallenged, the ban “threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism, free from government interference,” the three organizations argued.

They said the government had been notified that the lawsuit would be filed today.

Their aim is to “defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.”

President Trump said on Friday that the three media organizations had been immediately excluded from the White House, accusing them of spreading fake news.

Critics see the move as an attempt at intimidation and an attack on press freedom.

However, it remained unclear what exactly had prompted Trump’s announcement.

Journalists from all three outlets were denied entry to the White House grounds on Saturday, according to the media organizations’ statements.

CNN is one of the world’s most recognized news channels.

Politico is part of the portfolio of the German media group Axel Springer.

During his second term, President Trump has taken an increasingly harsh approach toward media outlets he dislikes.

He often insults journalists when he dislikes their questions, while media coverage favorable to him is publicly praised by the president.