Trump’s media ban prompts lawsuit as multiple networks boycott president in solidarity with barred rivals

Rival media outlets have become unlikely allies in boycotting US President Donald Trump after he controversially banned reporters from the White House.

Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico employees from the White House on Friday, calling the outlets “fake news” and claiming that access is “a privilege, not a right”.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: US media outlets sue Trump over White House ban

Reporters from the networks had their entry badges denied on Saturday, with all three outlets filing a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday.

“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” they said in a joint statement.

“Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”

The lawsuit alleges Trump’s ban is in breach of the US constitution’s first amendment; the right to free speech.

“(The constitution) does not allow a president or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and liberty and property interests with no notice or process based solely on his dislike of the content of their reporting,” the lawsuit alleges.

Former White House Spokesperson Pete Seat told Sunrise the outlets “should win” the legal battle as the “White House cannot refuse access based on coverage”.

“If they want to make the case that it’s based on security or capacity of the White House briefing room, the Oval Office, other spaces within the White House, that’s another thing,” Seat said.

“But to say that it’s based on their coverage will likely not stand up to constitutional or legal scrutiny.”

It’s the latest legal test of free speech under Trump, who has routinely attacked the press throughout both of his presidential terms.

The three banned outlets are part of a press pool which follows and reports on the president, and also includes ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC.

Despite being rivals in the media landscape, the ban led to all of the news outlets becoming unlikely allies to boycott coverage of Trump.