Justice Department Defends White House Press Ban Ahead of Court Hearing

The US Justice Department is defending the Trump administration's decision to bar several news outlets from White House grounds, arguing ahead of a court hearing that access to the White House is "a privilege, not a right."

The case centers on outlets including CNN, Politico and MS Now, which were banned from White House premises and are now preparing to present their case in court challenging the decision.

The dispute raises questions about press access to the White House and the extent to which the administration can restrict which outlets are permitted on the grounds, an issue that has drawn attention from press freedom advocates.

The Justice Department's position, framing access as a discretionary privilege rather than a guaranteed right, is expected to be a central point of contention as the affected outlets argue their case before the court.

The outcome of the hearing could have implications for how future administrations manage press access to the White House, a matter that has periodically prompted legal and political disputes between the press corps and the executive branch.