The White House itself was reportedly taken by surprise when Trump posted on Truth Social that he was banning reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.
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When it is referred to as a White House ban, that is slightly inaccurate because, when Trump has done this previously, the reporters were banned from covering him. The ban would cover Air Force One, Trump’s travels, or events Trump is appearing at.
It is more than access to the White House. Trump could potentially cut off access to covering his presidency.
Republicans are trying to defend Trump banning reporters, but haven’t been able to come up with a logical answer for why trampling the Constitution and violating the First Amendment is a good idea.
When all else fails, Republicans can always turn to their favorite standby of blaming Joe Biden.
ABC’s Jon Karl asked House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise on ABC’s This Week, “Do you support him banning these news organizations because he doesn't like what they're reporting?”
The answer from any true conservative who supports the Constitution should be a loud no.
Scalise went into the soft shoe of praising Trump:
And first of all, I don’t think we’ve had a president that’s been more open to the press.
Look, I’ve been at -- you go to a bill-signing with President Trump and the first thing he does before he even signs the bill is he brings in the press, and everybody gets to not only take pictures, but ask questions.
Trump only deals with the press in very controlled or limited environments, and he has handpicked much of the White House Press Pool and diluted it with supportive outlets, but Scalise’s next claim was outrageous.
