Three major media companies have informed the Trump administration of their intent to sue over the sudden revocation of their journalists’ White House press credentials. They assert that Donald Trump’s directive, which bars these reporters from White House grounds, infringes upon First Amendment rights and Due Process rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
This action follows a weekend during which Secret Service officers confiscated and deactivated the press badges of several White House correspondents.
“Senior White House correspondent Betsy Klein was stopped at security when her pass was turned off and taken away,” CNN reported.
“Reporter Akayla Gardner and our photojournalists were also stopped at the security checkpoint our credentials were disabled,” MS NOW reported. Politico added that White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her badge confiscated upon arrival.
These restrictions were implemented shortly after President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would ban the three news organizations for their “fake news” reporting.
“Without any notice, the White House has taken away our journalists’ credentials because it doesn’t like our reporting,” the news organizations stated in a joint statement. They added that they are filing a lawsuit to restore their access and protect “the fundamental right of a free press.”
Media lawyers and rights groups, including the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), condemned the administration’s actions. “Using government power to exclude certain outlets from getting federal help due to their coverage sets a dangerous precedent that could affect all news organizations,” said WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich.
This legal challenge is part of a broader effort by media organizations to resist increasing restrictions on press credentials through First Amendment battles, similar to an ongoing case by The Associated Press regarding limits on press access.