said its journalists were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday morning, a day after Donald Trump said he would ban the news channel and two other news outlets, CNN and Politico, from the executive branch complex.
asserted
he → say → complex
The outlet said a reporter and a cameraman had been denied access and had their White House press passes confiscated by the US Secret Service at a security gate outside the West Wing.
asserted
passes → say → Wing
“The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” MS Now said, adding that it “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our first amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.
asserted
it → belong → democracy
“We stand firmly behind our anchors, our reporters and our newsroom.
asserted
We → stand → anchors
We will continue to report on the president, the administration and the issues that impact the American people.”
asserted
that → continue → people
Trump’s threat to banish CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House has brought condemnation from first amendment advocates and Democratic officials, among others, as the conflict between the US president and parts of the media sharply escalates ahead of November’s midterm elections.
asserted
conflict → banish → elections
It has also thrown into stark relief Trump’s attack on press freedom in the US, which has unnerved civil liberties advocates.
asserted
which → throw → advocates
In a Truth Social post on Friday afternoon, Trump said he would order the removal of the news outlets “effective immediately” for what he claimed was “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” and said he is considering banning more.
asserted
he → say → more
Trump did not identify a single infraction, but rather said his decision was “really just cumulative stories over the last two years.
asserted
decision → identify → years
You get sick of it.”
asserted
You → get → it
The White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents the White House press corps, condemned the move.
asserted
which → represent → move
“The constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference,” it said on social media.
asserted
it → protect → media
“That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting or approves of the questions its journalists ask.”
asserted
journalists → depend → questions
The body said the issue is “about more than the rights of journalists” but about “the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office”.
asserted
whoever → say → office
Trump has long clashed with the media over what he considers slanted coverage of his administration and himself personally, as well as describing a media environment in which the press and his political opponents are in collusion.
asserted
press → clash → collusion
Last year the Associated Press was banned form the White House after refusing to acknowledge an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
asserted
Press → ban → America
After Friday’s ban was announced, CNN issued a statement saying that removing its reporters from the grounds could violate the law.
uncertain
removing → announce → law
“CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting,” a spokesperson for the outlet said.
asserted
spokesperson → stand → outlet
“We have a right under the US constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government.”
asserted
We → have → government
Politico also issued a statement, saying it would “continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones” and “will vigorously defend our first amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them”.
asserted
it → issue → them
Jim Acosta, a former CNN reporter, accused Trump of “taking a meat axe to the free press in this country”.
asserted
Acosta → accuse → country
Speaking on MS Now on Friday, Acosta called the latest media bans “a slippery slope” and warned: “We are on the path to having a state media-like system in this country.”
asserted
We → speak → country
Acosta said the media should collectively oppose Trump’s ban.
asserted
media → say → ban
“Each of these news organizations should sue the White House, sue Donald Trump, and that other news organizations in Washington should band together and say, ‘We will not go to the White House and cover you and cover your administration.
asserted
We → sue → administration
We’re banning you.’”
asserted
We → ban → you
Press freedom group PEN America said: “Someone needs to explain to President Trump how the first amendment works.
asserted
amendment → say → Trump
As we’ve seen time and time again, this administration’s hostility toward the press is never about the accuracy of news stories, but about its inability to withstand scrutiny of its actions.
asserted
hostility → see → actions
The White House can’t be allowed to decide which journalists are able to cover the president based on the content of their news coverage.”
asserted
journalists → allow → coverage
The Aporia
