On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened to ban CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House. The threat was quickly carried out: all three outlets were denied entry the following morning, according to NPR, escalating concerns about press freedom and the administration’s approach to First Amendment protections.
Politico sought an explanation for the timing of the directive. The publication reported that many senior White House staff members were surprised by the order and that it was issued while chief of staff Susie Wiles was out of town. It also indicated that Trump had been dissuaded from pursuing a broader action.
