'Free press ban': WHCA condemns Trump's move to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico

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

The statement came even as Trump defended the restrictions that have barred the three news organizations from the White House, effective immediately. Trump accused the media of publishing what he described as “fake news” and portraying his administration in a negative light.

“The president made that clear in the Oval Office, describing his own planned action as a ‘ban on the free press,'” Heinrich said in a statement to X.

The WHCA cites constitutional protections of the press

Heinrich said the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference, arguing that those protections should not depend on the president agreeing to a news organization’s 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 reporting, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its reporters ask,” she said.

According to Heinrich, the dispute goes beyond the rights of journalists and concerns the public’s ability to receive information about the government.

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

The WHCA president also expressed support for journalists working for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

“The WHCA stands up for our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW and POLITICO who are singled out for doing their jobs,” Heinrich said.

Trump opposes restrictions

Trump, meanwhile, defended the decision, accusing all three sources of producing what he called “dishonest and one-sided reporting.” He also claimed that the organization, according to multiple reports, is deliberately trying to undermine his Republican administration.

The WHCA is an independent organization representing White House correspondents. Its stated mission includes supporting the ability of the press to independently report on the presidency without government control.

Heinrich, a senior White House correspondent for Fox News, serves as president of the association.