Does the Press Understand the First Amendment?

The corporate “news” media is caterwauling because President Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. He first announced the ban on Friday, and it became effective Saturday morning when “journalists” from all three outlets were denied access to the executive mansion. Predictably, they all insist that Trump is violating their First Amendment rights. This is where the confusion comes in. The First Amendment reads as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press …” This doesn’t mean they have reserved seats in the White House briefing room.

Nonetheless, the outlets issued statements suggesting that they don’t quite grasp that reality. MS NOW brayed, “Earlier this morning MSNOW journalists were denied access to the White House grounds … MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.” CNN fumed, “Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds … We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right.” Politico’s statement was less hysterical: “We will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”

Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico prompted calls for a full scale media boycott of the White House. Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), for example, posted the following on X: “Every single media outlet that believes in the “free press” should boycott the White House press room until Trump lifts his absurd ban on media outlets he doesn’t like. This is an attack on all of the press — not just those outlets — and it must be met with unity and solidarity from the rest.” It was in fact the result of the dishonest and malicious attacks by all three outlets on President Trump. While Trump was being badgered about the ban by the press on Friday, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders — once his press secretary — pointed out the irony of their hostile questions:

I think it’s hard for you to argue against a free press when you’re literally standing in the Oval Office asking questions of the president of the United States. He’s been more accessible and easier to talk to than any president in history. Think about the previous administration, where you could barely get through a press conference. And yet you have the opportunity to stand here in the Oval Office and ask questions to the leader of the free world. I mean that’s pretty free. And you’re standing here and asking those questions. I think the President is right to support the First Amendment. But he’s also right to ask that you be honest and fair. That’s not an unreasonable thing to ask.