President Donald Trump tonight justified his decision to bar CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, describing it as an attack on 'fake news' that has spread 'like a cancer.' The three networks previously announced they would stop covering Trump and file a lawsuit over press freedom, as reported by The Zioneer.
President Donald Trump issued a statement tonight explaining his decision to bar CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House access, framing the move as an attack on 'fake news' rather than on a free press. 'The White House is not launching an attack against the free press, which is dear to my heart. It is launching an attack against fake news, a phenomenon that has spread like a cancer in our beloved United States,' Trump said. He described the phenomenon as corrupt, deliberate, widespread, coordinated, and out of control, calling it a national security threat that must be stopped.
The statement comes 33 minutes after The Zioneer reported that the three networks had announced a boycott of coverage of Trump and plans to file a lawsuit over press freedom. The White House had earlier closed the press area and canceled all public events. In related background, Trump has previously threatened legal action against other news outlets, including ABC, over what he called 'false reporting.' The networks' lawsuit and boycott mark an escalation in the standoff between the administration and major media organizations.
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