Trump says he is banning three major US media outlets for 'reporting fake news'

President Donald Trump has said he is banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House for "reporting fake news".

In a post on Truth Social tonight, he threatened more media bans were "to follow".

He wrote: "I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their named from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them 'alive.' Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!

"Media outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America.

"Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."

He later told reporters at the White House: "I don't want them in my office. I don't ⁠want them here. I would say the ‌ban would go as far as you can."

CNN said in a statement it was "fully behind" its White House team and their "fair and accurate reporting".

The channel said it had a right "under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government".

"Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right," it added.

Politico said it would "continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones" and defend its "first amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them".

The National Press Club called on Mr Trump to "reverse his declaration immediately".

Its president, Mark Schoeff Jr, said in a statement: "Banning news organizations from the White House based on the administration's disapproval of their coverage is a clear attempt to control which voices are allowed to witness and report on the exercise of presidential power.

"Every American should understand what is at stake. If implemented, this ban would mark an unprecedented assault on press freedom."

There was no immediate suggestion that the president was following through on his remarks.

Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were still on the White House grounds as of late Friday afternoon, US time, with no indication they had been removed.

Mr Trump's defence secretary Pete Hegseth supported the decision in a post on X.

He wrote: "The Department of War fully supports President Trump's decision to kick CNN, MS NOW and Politico to the curb so they can publish their fake news from outside the White House."

Mr Trump has long complained about what he sees as the negative coverage he and his administration receive, coining the phrase "fake news" for those he perceived as unfavourable during his first term in the White House.

He has frequently lashed out at individual reporters in person or over social media, with several recent attacks on CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

In February last year, Associated Press (AP) journalists were banned from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other events in retaliation for the news agency's refusal to follow his lead in changing the Gulf of Mexico's name to the Gulf of America.

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Since returning to office last year, Mr Trump has pursued other legal action against a variety of different outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, meaning they are likely to challenge any ban in court.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, the president said he would justify banning three news organisations from the White House, despite the First Amendment, "because they're fake news".

AP is fighting its ban in court.

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