White House defends Trump media ban as TV networks halt coverage

The White House insists President Donald Trump acted within his power when he removed CNN, MS NOW, and Politico “ after years of false reporting.”
The presidency, in a statement on Monday, said the First Amendment protects their right to publish but does not entitle them to a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool.
The White House accused critics of acting as though the restriction is new, saying the outrage was due to the sanction of outlets “friendly to the Radical Left.”
The president’s office recalled how Democrat administrations “locked out the press,” including in 2009 when the Obama White House barred Fox News from a round of exclusive Sunday show intervie...