President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is banning three major news outlets from the White House.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said CNN, MS NOW and Politico are subject to the ban, accusing them of reporting "fake news."
"Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America," Trump wrote.
Trump later defended his decision, insisting his decision was not a violation of the First Amendment, while taking questions from reporters at the White House during an unrelated event.
"The ban is because they are fake news. What they write is very bad," Trump said, noting the bans could be lifted if they "straighten out."
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He added that other news outlets could also face bans.
Despite Trump's announcement, Scripps News senior White House correspondent Haley Bull reported that CNN staff remained on the White House grounds as of Friday afternoon.
CNN said in a statement that it stands behind its White House team and their reporting.
"We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government. Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally protected right," the network said.
Politico also defended its reporting.
"POLITICO will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones," the outlet said. "We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them."
MS NOW had not publicly responded to Trump's announcement as of Friday afternoon.
The latest move comes amid other disputes between the Trump administration and news organizations over press access.
Earlier in Trump's second term, the White House restricted The Associated Press' access to some events after it continued to use the name Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Trump's decision to rename it the Gulf of America.
The AP sued, arguing that the restrictions violated its First Amendment rights. The case remains in the court system.
Trump has long criticized news organizations over coverage he considers unfair and has repeatedly clashed with individual reporters and media outlets.
