Can Trump ban CNN, news outlets he doesn’t like from the White House?

econews. United States President Donald Trump has taken the unprecedented step of announcing that several media outlets are to be banned from the White House, “immediately”.

On Friday, he took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce the ban, citing “reporting FAKE NEWS!” as the reason, with other outlets to follow.

Asked by reporters later on Friday what he meant, Trump said: “Others to come in terms of fake news? Well, you know, The New York Times is fake news, The Washington Post is fake news.”

Which news outlets have been banned and why?

The US President banned CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and Politico from reporting from the White House.

On Truth Social, he accused the outlets of propagating “fake news”. He added that the outlets “constantly write or report fiction or lies” about the Trump administration, but did not give any examples.

However, a short news conference at the White House on the same day revealed that it was likely a partisan issue, telling reporters the outlets “purposely write negative news” and seek to “diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration. And honestly, we’ve done a fantastic job.”

What have the responses been?

CNN denounced the move, saying it stands behind its White House team and their “fair and accurate reporting”.

“We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” a CNN spokesperson told Al Jazeera. “Should the ban, which President Trump threatened, go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally protected right.”