Trump Says He Is Banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico From the White House

President Donald Trump said Friday that he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, “effective immediately.”

He did not give any specific rationale for the move, instead posting that “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The move, assuming it comes to fruition, would mark an escalation in the White House’s effort to rein in the press in Trump’s second term. The White House barred The Associated Press from the press pool and from certain events after it determined that it would continue calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of Mexico, rather than the Gulf of America. The Pentagon has also effectively banished most news organizations from its facilities and otherwise restricted access.

Still, barring major news outlets from the White House altogether would be a major step in cracking down on press freedom to cover the country’s leadership, even if the reporters certainly will continue to follow the administration’s every move and break news in the process.

CNN’s chief White House correspondent is Kaitlan Collins, who also hosts a primetime show for the channel, with Vaughn Hillyard leading the team for MS NOW. The White House Correspondents’ Association, which is sure to fight the move, is led by Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich.

In a statement, a CNN spokesperson said, “CNN stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting. We have a right under the U.S. 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.”

1:44 p.m. This story has been updated with a statement from CNN.