Attorney General Blanche defends White House press ban as a 'privilege, not a right'

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration's decision to bar three news outlets from the White House, arguing on Sunday that being present at the White House "is a privilege and not a right."

Speaking on ABC News' "This Week" during the second week of a dispute over press credentialing and access, Blanche said the administration decided to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico beginning Sept. 19.

Blanche said the move came because President Trump was "sick and tired" of what he considered inaccurate reporting from those outlets, framing the ban as a response to the president's dissatisfaction with their coverage.

The dispute over which outlets retain access to White House press facilities has become a point of contention between the administration and parts of the media, with press freedom advocates and some lawmakers raising concerns about restricting access based on the content of an outlet's coverage.

The administration's position, as articulated by Blanche, rests on the argument that White House access is a privilege it can extend or withdraw at its discretion, rather than a right guaranteed to news organizations.

The dispute remained unresolved as of Blanche's appearance, with the affected outlets continuing to operate without their previous access as the standoff enters its second week.