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NEW YORK (AP) -- President Donald Trump said Friday he is barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House due to what he called unfavorable coverage and "fake news." He also threatened that more such media bans could be coming -- the latest salvo in the president's response to media coverage he finds unfavorable.
Like many of Trump's other confrontations with news organizations -- some of which are playing out in the legal arena -- this threat has potential First Amendment implications. There was no immediate indication, though, that he is following through.
Trump wrote on his social media site that effective immediately, "I am banning" CNN, MS NOW and Politico "from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" Minutes later, speaking at an event in the Oval Office, Trump was asked to explain his statement.
"Because they're fake news," he said. "You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it's just fake. That's why their ratings are no good. When you look at MS NOW ... , it's fake news."
"And when you look at Politico … the stories they wrote are fake. So there's a lot of news and there may be others to join them, and maybe they can get better," he said. "But our country has to have honest news."
He gave no further details on how the ban would be implemented. Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were still on the White House grounds as of late Friday afternoon with no signs of being removed.
CNN denounced the move, saying it stands behind its White House team and their "fair and accurate reporting."
"We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government," it said in a statement posted on X. "Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right."
Politico said it would "continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones. We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them." MS NOW did not immediately return an email asking about the ban.
The White House has confronted the media more in Trump's second term
In his second term, Trump and his administration have upped the ante and punished certain media outlets, both in the courtroom and through regulatory action. Trump has also lashed out at individual reporters in person or over social media.