The NewsGuild-CWA is condemning President Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS Now and Politico reporters from accessing the White House because of coverage he disliked.
Earlier this week, those news outlets filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling it a selective ban and a blatant violation of freedom of speech. A federal judge issued an order on Wednesday that the ban be lifted, saying this move was likely unconstitutional, but reporters’ access has yet to be restored.
“Press access cannot be weaponized against journalists for their reporting,” said the Politico and E&E News (PEN) Guild in a social media statement. “An attack on one outlet’s ability to cover the White House is an attack on a free press for all of us. We stand with our members and every journalist targeted for doing their job.”
“I applaud these news organizations for pushing back immediately against Trump’s illegal behavior,” said The NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “This is yet again another shameful moment for our country. Trump doesn’t get to decide who covers the ‘people’s house.’ The First Amendment includes a free press so that tyrants wouldn’t be allowed to control what the public sees or hears.”
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