White House restricts journalists again! After CNN, Politico is also barred from Air Force One

In a move that is no longer surprising, the White House on Monday, after the latest “blockade” of CNN on journalistic coverage aboard Air Force One, refused to allow Politico to board the presidential plane, meaning the news organisation cannot fulfil its duties as a member of the pool of journalists accompanying the President.

A Politico spokesperson confirmed that the outlet was barred from the pool of journalists covering the President’s trips away from home, almost a month after President Donald Trump announced on September 18 that he was “banning” Politico, CNN and MS NOW from the White House, a move that legal experts have called unconstitutional.

The outlets then filed a lawsuit, claiming the ban violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued a temporary order asking the Trump administration to restore the journalists’ credentials.

Since then, the White House has repeatedly blocked CNN from travelling on Air Force One on the days when it was its turn to represent the television networks in the coverage team. Now, on the day when it was Politico’s turn to represent the written press in the coverage team, it has been blocked as well.

The Trump administration appears to be justifying these new restrictions by arguing that access to the White House complex is different from access to other spaces, such as Air Force One. The Associated Press has already filed a lawsuit over this distinction, after Trump tried to bar the news agency from certain spaces last year.

Last week, when TIME magazine journalists asked whether Trump was ignoring the court’s order, he replied in the negative, with communications director Steven Chung intervening, saying: “The judge essentially ordered the restoration of their access to the White House, but that is different from allowing the press pool to enter events in the Oval Office or on Air Force One.”

Trump is expected to travel to Nebraska this Monday as part of his campaign. With Politico excluded from the trip, the White House offered its seat to other news organisations that rotate in the team covering the trip.

In a move to support Politico, several outlets refused to cover his stay, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN.

Ultimately, the White House press briefing on Sunday evening mentioned no outlet accompanying the president on the trip, perhaps suggesting that the position left empty by Politico had not been filled.