By J1 Reporter Eve Steele
“Crooked and Corrupt Press.”

President Donald J. Trump stated this about three major news outlets, MS NOW, CNN, and Politico, after banning them all from the White House grounds on Sept. 18, expressing that they should not be able to constantly report their “fake news” about his actions or himself.

During the morning of Sept. 19, MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner’s badge was confiscated at the gate of the White House and she was told by an officer that her badge was now disabled.

Akayla Gardener, CNN reporter Betsy Klein, and Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett were all blocked from the White House that day after their access was denied, confirming that the three networks were now blocked from the property.

Shortly after this news was announced to the public, accusations of violations of the First Amendment were immediately made, many of which were from other news networks, but also from the general public.

This backlash was not just from Democrats or non-MAGA Republicans, as some MAGA supporters even began to switch on Trump’s actions, including Sen. John Kennedy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Sen. Kennedy made a statement to NBC News, “I don’t agree with cancel culture. I didn’t before when it was being practiced under the Democrats, and I don’t agree with it now.” he said. He suggested that President Trump should just ignore the reporters that he is not fond of, instead of taking away their rights.

While some MAGA personnel began to flip, many also stood by Trump and his actions, including Sen. Ron Johnson, who said that the press was an accomplice to the U.S. enemies and were always writing in a negative tone about the Iran war.

When polled in a classroom of 20 junior female students at Marian, all responded that they believed the banning of the press from the White House was a negative action.

“It doesn’t matter what side politically each press is on, or which side they lean towards,” junior Lou Smith said,  “if we can’t have news sources from certain sides of the political fence, that’s how we create propaganda and fake news.”  Smith said she believes that “we need as many Americans as possible to be informed over each issue as much as possible.”

Smith also noted that it was very honorable that Fox News, although holding very different political views, were no longer attending the White House press conferences in solidarity with the three news outlets that were banned.

Smith was not the only individual who also had a vocal opinion about the banning of the press, as junior Reese Visty said, “We are built upon freedom of speech and it was blatantly listed in our rights to assure that our voices were always heard … it also censors what information we receive as a country [which] can sway our democracy one way or the other.”

Both Smith and Visty showcase how they say that they believe this ban can assert negative aspects onto the United States.

A new development began on Sept. 21, just three days after the initial ban was set into place, and this was the filing of a joint federal lawsuit of MS NOW, CNN, and Politico against the Trump administration, claiming that it is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment, which includes freedom of speech and freedom of press.

POLITICO intern Elleiana Green said POLITICO was unable to make an official comment for an interview. They are unable to speak out about the situation during the lawsuit. Green refers all to the public statement that they “will continue to fairly report on this White House [situation] and future ones.”

“[We] will continue to vigorously defend our First
Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”

POLITICO statement.

“[We] will continue to vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.” POLITICO said.

While this lawsuit was being developed, the White House launched a new streaming channel, named Trump TV, to broadcast raw presidential footage and announcements. This movement angered many different networks and individuals as it seemed to censor the news even more, because instead of a lack of reporting, it would be filtered through the MAGA officials, giving a Republican point of view on news that should be neutral.

This act of creating a new broadcasting system contradicted the White House’s action of banning press that seemed to lean to the left, which showed Trump in a negative light, because the new station leans incredibly far right, as it is currently being run by the Trump administration.

The MS NOW, CNN, and Politico vs. the Trump administration lawsuit is still actively being developed, but since Sept. 22, all three networks accesses have been renewed, meaning that they now could return to the White House grounds, although with some restrictions still in place around traveling.

The lawsuit may be looking in favor of the press, as U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly originally granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, showing that the Administration failed to give the journalists and broadcasters involved a heads up, expressing a violation of due process.

The ban of press from the White House grounds is beginning to look more and more unconstitutional to many, leaving an uncertain feeling about the censorship that is happening in front of the citizens eyes, many wondering if this could lead to more rights being violated.

Thank you to POLITICO Intern Elleiana Green for her contribution to this story! This situation continues to develop as time goes on, so make sure to stay updated!

If you have any questions, please email the J1 reporter, 28.eve.steele@omahamarian.org.