DoJ defends Trump's ban on CNN, Politico and MS Now, citing national security

The US Department of Justice has defended President Donald Trump's decision to bar three news organizations — CNN, Politico and MS Now — from the White House, arguing in a court filing that access to the grounds is a "privilege" rather than a constitutional right.

The filing cites national security concerns as part of the administration's justification for the ban, according to The Guardian. Lawyers representing the president reiterated Trump's characterization of the outlets' reporting as "fake news" and argued that excluding them does not violate the first amendment.

Outlets sue over exclusion

CNN, Politico and MS Now have filed a lawsuit in response to the ban, arguing that barring them from White House access amounts to a violation of press freedom protections under the first amendment. The case sets up a legal dispute over the extent to which the executive branch can restrict which news organizations receive access to cover the presidency.

The Justice Department's position — that White House access is a privilege the administration can grant or withhold — echoes arguments made in previous disputes between the Trump administration and members of the press over credentialing and access policies.

The court filing does not specify a timeline for when a judge might rule on the news organizations' lawsuit.

Neither the White House nor representatives for CNN, Politico or MS Now were quoted with additional comment beyond what was included in the court filing and the lawsuit itself.