TRUMP BANS CNN, MS NOW AND POLITICO FROM WHITE HOUSE

Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, with the restriction taking effect immediately. He made the announcement during an event in the Oval Office, accusing the three outlets of spreading "fake news" and being "dishonest". The ban covers three separate news organisations at once. Officials had not clarified the practical scope of the restriction by the time of the announcement. Press freedom advocates responded by denouncing the decision.

It remains unclear exactly what the ban would involve, including whether journalists working for CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be prevented from entering White House grounds altogether or simply excluded from briefings and other press access. Trump's relationship with sections of the media has long been fraught, according to reports covering the announcement. Friday's Oval Office remarks extended his criticism of media coverage to three separate outlets simultaneously. No further detail was given on how the restriction would be applied or monitored.

Legal challenges to the ban are considered almost certain, according to reports on the announcement. Press freedom organisations have already criticised the decision, framing it as a restriction on media access to the White House. Neither the White House nor the three outlets had set out further steps to be taken as a result of the ban. The scope of the restriction, including its duration and whether it could be reversed, was not addressed by Trump during the Oval Office event.