MS NOW says its journalists were denied access to White House grounds

MS NOW said its journalists were denied access to the White House grounds Saturday morning, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would bar the network and other news outlets from the complex.

Trump said Friday that he was banning MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House because of what he described as unfavourable coverage and “fake news.” MS NOW said it stands behind its journalists and intends to take all necessary steps to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism.

The network said the White House belongs to the American people and that decisions made inside are funded by taxpayers. It was unclear Saturday morning whether CNN journalists were also being blocked. Correspondents are usually at the White House on weekends when the president is in Washington or at nearby Camp David; Trump is spending the weekend at the Maryland presidential retreat. Politico journalists typically are not at the White House on Saturdays.