President Donald Trump’s new press ban is already backfiring in a host of different ways.
Trump first announced his latest attack on the press on Friday when he said CNN, Politico and MS NOW would be barred from the White House, citing baseless claims that their coverage was “FAKE NEWS!”
The administration escalated those broadsides on Monday, removing CNN from its planned assignment on the White House TV press pool.
Here’s a rundown of the backlash and consequences that have followed Trump’s latest onslaught against the media.
Trump admin sued by the banned media outlets
CNN, Politico and MS NOW have filed a joint lawsuit challenging the ban, arguing the administration has violated their First Amendment rights. It urges a judge to declare the Trump ban unconstitutional and restore their press access.
“This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles,” the lawsuit reads.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee who will hear the case, has given the administration a Tuesday deadline to respond and set a Wednesday hearing.
Trump again lashed out at the outlets and Kelly in response to the suit on Monday.
“As expected, Fake News CNN, Politico (Pay back the 8 Million Dollar contribution made by the U.S. Government to keep them afloat!), and MSNOW (formerly known as MSDNC!), have brought suit to gain access to the White House, and your President, ME!” he wrote in a Monday Truth Social post. “They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet.”
Kelly previously ruled to restore former CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass when the administration tried to suspend it.
Limited TV coverage of Trump’s events
After CNN was removed from the White House TV press pool, the other four networks that make up the White House television pool — ABC News, CBS News, Fox News and NBC News ― said they also won’t participate in solidarity with the network. That meant there was no professional video coverage of certain Trump White House events, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the White House on Monday that resulted in a pretty embarrassing snafu.
Footage of the event came with “completely indecipherable audio” because no outlets were present, JS’s Kelby Vera reported.
Even a reporter from the right-wing outlet Newsmax noted this was an example of Trump’s ban “backfiring just a little bit.”
Trump and Vance try to defend policy
Trump and Vice President JD Vance are also once again on the defensive and forced to justify a toxic policy amid ongoing scrutiny of high gas prices and the war on Iran.
“He’s not banning media outlets,” Vance said on Monday. “What he’s doing is saying, ‘We’re not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda.’ If you’re going to engage in what is effectively far-left propaganda, why would a Republican White House give you special access?”
Trump’s policy is also squeezing other Republican lawmakers, who are being pressed on the move. Privately, GOP members have raised concerns about the policy, but they’re wary of speaking out against Trump, Republican strategist Melik Abdul said on CNN’s “This Morning.”
The cringey Natalie Harp scrutiny is back in the spotlight
The press ban has also renewed attention on White House aide Natalie Harp, who reportedly helped prompt Trump to impose the policy.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Harp reportedly showed Trump videos of MS NOW hosts criticizing the administration ― just hours before the president decided to move forward with the ban.
Harp has been under scrutiny given her role in the White House and her close ties to Trump. The focus on the ban is reigniting the spotlight that’s been on her.
News outlets express solidarity, including JS
A number of news outlets, including JS, also declined to use photos taken by the White House still photography pool on Monday to express solidarity with the publications that have been barred.
“No news organization — or person — should be retaliated against by the government over the words they use,” The Associated Press said in a statement on Saturday.
According to New York Times reporter Ben Mullin, who cited an internal memo, NPR also won’t be using audio from White House events for the time being.
Fox News contributors Ari Fleischer and Jonathan Turley were among those who have spoken out as well.
“Barring disfavored media from the White House is a terrible precedent and practice,” Turley said.