CNN and other media journalists prevented from accessing the White House

Journalists from CNN and two other American media outlets were prevented from entering the White House grounds on Saturday, an unprecedented restriction denounced as an attack on press freedom.

Donald Trump had surprised everyone the day before by announcing that he was locking down access to CNN, MSNOW and the online media outlet Politico "with immediate effect", marking a dramatic escalation in his war against the media.

"The American people must be able to hold those who are elected accountable through a free and independent press, whether government officials like it or not," the White House Correspondents' Association insisted in a statement Saturday.

Condemning a decision that "violates the First Amendment" of the US Constitution guaranteeing freedom of the press, she urged the administration "to immediately restore access" to the journalists concerned.

Earlier on Saturday, correspondents from the three media outlets reported being prevented from entering the White House grounds.

"I tried to scan my badge, which is required to enter the White House compound, and it didn't work, a red light started flashing," Akayla Gardner, MSNOW's White House correspondent, told television.

"This is the first time, to our knowledge, that we have been denied access to the White House," she added.

- "Intimidate and punish" -

CNN journalists and Politico correspondent Cheyenne Haslett were also turned away Saturday morning, their respective media outlets announced, condemning the restrictions.

When contacted, the White House simply referred to the announcement made by Donald Trump on Friday.

The Republican president announced this unprecedented measure on his Truth Social network, accusing the three media outlets of spreading false information.

"Other media outlets spreading false information will follow," he threatened.

This dramatic decision, which is expected to be challenged in court, has been strongly condemned by several industry players and political leaders.

"Donald Trump has just done what dictators have always done throughout history," accused Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on X.

"President Trump and his administration are determined to intimidate and punish media outlets that publish information they don't like," a spokesperson for the New York Times lamented.

"The press must be able to work freely around the government," the French Association of Presidential Press (APP) reminded X, expressing its support for the targeted American media.

During his first term and since his return to power in early 2025, Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked journalists or media outlets whose coverage he dislikes, whether in court, on Truth Social or verbally during sometimes very violent exchanges with journalists, particularly women.

He had also removed the Associated Press, a pillar of American journalism, from the Oval Office after it refused to adopt the name "Gulf of America" for the Gulf of Mexico.

This unprecedented new ban comes at a time of great political difficulty for Donald Trump.

With the legislative elections approaching in early November, the American president is becoming increasingly unpopular because of the high cost of living in the United States and the soaring price of fuel, but also because of the war he started in Iran, the outcome of which is more uncertain than ever.