President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of major US media organisations, accusing outlets that report critically on his administration of spreading what he calls “FAKE NEWS” and describing the media as a threat to national security.
Trump made the comments on Monday on his Truth Social platform, the same day CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to bar them from the White House.
Trump wrote that the media he was referring to had become a “Cancer” and alleged that their reporting posed a threat to the United States.
“It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!” Trump wrote.
The president did not provide evidence in the post to support his national security allegation. His comments came after the three media organisations announced legal action over the White House access restrictions.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said their journalists’ credentials were revoked without notice or an opportunity to respond because the administration objected to their reporting. The outlets said they were seeking to defend their First Amendment rights and the principle that the government should not determine what the press reports.
Trump has previously accused the affected organisations of publishing what he describes as false or negative reports about his administration. On Friday, he announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, while also suggesting that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
The dispute has since expanded beyond the three organisations. Major US broadcasters, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CNN, suspended participation in the White House television pool on Monday in response to the access restrictions.
The television pool normally involves one broadcaster providing footage of presidential events for use by other television networks. CNN had been scheduled to provide the pool coverage on Monday, but the White House instead listed a backup crew.
The lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW and Politico asks a federal court to restore their access to the White House. The case adds to an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and media organisations over press access and the rights of journalists covering the president.
