Three prominent US news organizations, CNN, MSNOW, and Politico, have filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump and several White House officials. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that the White House revoked the press credentials of the three media outlets without notice or process. The outlets argue that this move threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism.
The lawsuit names Trump, along with Steven Cheung, assistant to the president for communications, Sean Curran, director of the Secret Service, and Susan Wiles, White House chief of staff, as defendants. The three media outlets claim that the White House's actions are a violation of their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit seeks to protect the outlets' ability to report on the White House and its activities without government interference.
The dispute began on Friday when Trump announced on social media that CNN, MSNOW, and Politico were banned from the White House "effective immediately," citing what he called constant "fake news." On Saturday, reporters from the three media outlets were denied entry to the White House, and their press credentials were confiscated. The move was widely seen as a continuation of Trump's tense relationship with US news organizations.
Trump's relationship with the media has been strained since the beginning of his second term. In February 2025, reporters from The Associated Press (AP) were barred from access to the White House Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago, and Air Force One after the AP declined to adopt the Trump administration's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." Trump has also filed lawsuits against media organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CBS.
In response to the lawsuit, Trump reacted on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that the outlets were suing to gain access to the White House and him. Trump argued that "fake news" people and publications that write negatively and violate national security shouldn't be allowed access to the White House. He also mentioned that he expects to appeal the lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by CNN, MSNOW, and Politico is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between Trump and the US media. The three outlets argue that the White House's actions are a threat to press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism. The lawsuit seeks to protect the outlets' ability to report on the White House and its activities without government interference.
The White House has not commented on the lawsuit. The case will likely have significant implications for the relationship between the US government and the media. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and the US media, and raises questions about the limits of government power to regulate press access.
Key points
- The lawsuit filed by CNN, MSNOW, and Politico claims that the White House's actions are a violation of their First Amendment rights.
- Trump's relationship with US news organizations has been strained since the beginning of his second term.
- The lawsuit seeks to protect the outlets' ability to report on the White House and its activities without government interference.
