The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has backed this Monday his decision to prevent access to the White House for the media CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, which he has labeled as "clowns" and accuses of "only publishing negative things about me." He also assumes that the measure will end up in court, as the case has fallen to federal judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump himself, who in 2018 already ruled against him in a similar matter.
"The name of the judge is Tim Kelly and, unfortunately, he was appointed by Trump (...). Almost certainly and, as is usual, we will have to appeal because the fake news (...) should not be able to enter the most important office in the world, the Oval Office," Trump has stated in a message posted on social media.
Trump maintains that these media "only publish negative things, violate our National Security with false and defamatory news from 'unknown' sources." In his opinion, the affected reporters are "third-rate clowns who distort, twist, and intentionally degrade everything they write or publish" despite their "great achievements," he emphasized.
The president has also recalled his "landslide victory" in the presidential elections despite having, according to him, "94% of the press against." "It's because the media have no credibility and that is very bad for our nation. Why should I let these people in? (...) In any case, I have the obligation to fight for the success and security of our country," he stressed.
Judge Kelly has been randomly assigned to handle the case and has given until Tuesday for the Trump Administration to legally argue the veto against these media. In the hearing set for Wednesday, he must rule on the request to immediately lift the prohibition imposed by Trump.
This same magistrate ordered in 2018 to restore the credential to CNN journalist Jim Acosta, after the White House denied him entry following a confrontation in which Acosta refused to hand the microphone to a staff member while asking Trump a question at a press conference. On that occasion, Trump called Acosta "rude and terrible."
In response to the new veto, the main television networks in the country --ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC-- have decided to stop covering White House events since last Saturday, in a sign of rejection of the president's measure.