White House correspondents body slams Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) on Friday (local time) condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, with its president Jacqui Heinrich saying the move amounts to a “ban on the free press.”

The statement came after Trump defended his decision to exclude the three news organisations, accusing them of publishing what he described as “fake news” and portraying his administration negatively. The three outlets were barred from White House access effective immediately, according to reports.

Also Read | Why Trump is banning CNN, Politico and MS Now from the White House; What we know so far

“The president said it plainly in the Oval Office, describing his own planned action as a ‘ban on the free press,’” Heinrich said in a statement.

She said the Constitution protects press freedom from government interference and argued that the protection does not depend on whether a president agrees with a news organisation’s coverage or reporting.

“The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask,” Heinrich said.

The WHCA president said the issue extended beyond journalists and concerned the public’s access to information about the functioning of the US government.

“This is about more than the rights of journalists. It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office,” she said.

Heinrich also expressed support for journalists working for the three organisations.

“The WHCA stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and Politico who are being singled out for doing their jobs,” she said.

The WHCA is an independent organisation representing White House correspondents and says its mission includes ensuring that the press can independently report on the presidency without government control. Heinrich, a Fox News senior White House correspondent, is serving as the association’s president.

Also Read | $100,000 H-1B visa fee extended by another year: What Trump admin's latest order mean for Indian professionals

Trump, meanwhile, has defended the restrictions, saying the outlets were producing what he called dishonest and one-sided coverage. He has also alleged that the organisations deliberately seek to undermine his Republican administration.

The latest dispute adds to continuing tensions between the Trump administration and major US news organisations over access to presidential events and White House press coverage.