MS NOW’s Jonathan Lemire said he was told Donald Trump asked aides, “Where are the cameras?” Thursday, after Trump barred MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House. A judge restored the outlets’ access for two weeks that morning, but reporters were initially kept out.
Trump announced the ban the previous week on Truth Social, saying the prohibition was the result of “FAKE NEWS.” Lemire said Trump had not consulted aides before imposing it. The outlets sued the president and his administration, describing the selective ban as a violation of the First Amendment.
An attorney for the outlets sought an emergency hearing, alleging the White House had repeatedly violated Judge Timothy Kelly’s order. Reporters were allowed back Thursday afternoon, but some journalists with CNN and MS NOW were still denied entry as the state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping began.
