The United States Department of Justice has come out in defense of President Donald Trump's decision to restrict access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to certain areas of the White House, arguing that the way these media have reported on the war with Iran and on the works at the presidential residence could constitute a threat to national security that justifies this measure.
In the document sent by the Department of Justice to the court, it is stated that "access to the White House is a privilege, not a right," and it emphasizes that the building "is the home and workplace of the commander in chief of the nation."
According to the document, "the president determined that they did not meet the minimum standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those granted permission to enter the complex, including the 'publication of sensitive or classified information,'" something that, in the government's view, would prevail over the First Amendment regarding freedom of the press.
The text also underscores that "at a minimum, the government could control journalists' access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office, even for discriminatory reasons based on public opinion," and notes that "the president's actions were not vindictive, as the government would have taken the same step anyway."
The United States Department of Justice also emphasizes that the decision is not related to editorial criticisms against Trump, reminding that "the president has not revoked access to other media that have also criticized him," and stresses that the suing journalists "were involved in several incidents related to information that have endangered national security."
This positioning comes in response to the lawsuit filed by the aforementioned media against the president and several high-ranking officials of the Administration for the veto. After the measure became known, CBS, FOX News, NBC, and ABC opted to temporarily suspend coverage of activities at the White House in solidarity with CNN, one of the main channels responsible for following the day-to-day of the U.S. Presidency.
In parallel, Trump has maintained his verbal attacks against the press and certain informants, this time addressing journalist Kaitlan Collins, from "fake news CNN." "All those despicable guys, like the 'third-rate reporter' Kaitlan Collins, from the fake news CNN, a truly bitter person, said they were not going to cover my activities," he has stated.
"If that's the case, why were they ranting and screaming like crazy in the United Nations press area? Why was she there? She has an obsession with Trump, just like CNN and MSDNC. They are all sick, they are traitors and they are insane!" he added in a social media message, in which he also labeled federal judge Timothy Kelly, assigned to the case, as "disloyal," who was appointed by Trump himself and who already ruled against him in a similar litigation in 2018.