The US Justice Department has defended Donald Trump’s decision to ban CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, accusing them of publishing false or security-threatening reports. The outlets say their journalists’ credentials were revoked because the administration objected to their reporting, and argue that the ban violates constitutional press protections. A judge is due to decide whether to suspend the ban temporarily while the broader legal challenge proceeds.

The department cited reports about White House construction, including a security bunker and proposed ballroom, as well as an investigation into an internal information leak. It argued that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a right, while the outlets warned that government control over access could undermine independent journalism. Major television networks have also protested by withdrawing from the presidential media pool, after which the White House launched a continuous streaming service called Trump TV.