Over the weekend, CNN, Politico, and MS NOW reporters were banned from reporting at the White House. In a report done by AP news, they had their badges confiscated, and were asked to leave the premises when arriving to work at the White House on Monday.
This shocking announcement came after President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Friday, Sept. 18, that, “Media outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they are covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other fake news media outlets to follow.”
CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, filed a lawsuit towards President Trump’s administration on Monday, Sept. 21, calling the ban “a blatant violation of the First Amendment.”
These types of government action spread beyond Truth Social, and into the accepted social norms of many American citizens. People look up to and respect the office of the president, and many assume that just because the president describes, enforces, or supports an idea, the idea is correct, constitutionally aligned, or supported by the majority of people.
Though this action is damaging to the news organizations themselves, the effects of this “pick and choose approach” to media coverage damages marginalized communities, and demonstrates a lack political accountability in the current administration, leaving the 250-year-old system of checks and balances in the United States completely abandoned.
The free press has always been a “watchdog” for the people of the US, to catch and publicize when the government is acting unethically or not in the peoples’ best interest. By banning only press that disagrees with him, President Trump is trying to prevent the press from doing their duty for the American people.
Though this may seem like a selective choice, other news outlets, according to AP News, have stood in solidarity with CNN as they have been removed from their pool duties. The television press pool follows the president, and its membership included ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News. These media groups announced on Monday that they were canceling their pool coverage of Trump and his administration due to the selective ban of CNN.
This shows hope. Not only in the media, but also in the changing face of the American public. We the people, can unite and work towards a world that is less politically divided, and more focused on the founding principles of our nation.
As a news organization, the Argonaut, and many others have come out in solidarity for the impacted organizations, due to a shared goal of giving the American public a diverse, transparent and informed selection of media. The actions being taken by this administration take us further away from the goal of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and continue to push/promote political extremes as the “new normal” of the United States.