'White House access privilege, not right': DOJ backs Trump barring reporters
The Trump administration is arguing in federal court that the White House has the authority to revoke press credentials for journalists based on national security and professionalism standards. The Justice Department maintains that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a constitutional right.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between executive branch control over government facilities and the First Amendment rights of the press to access information.
The Trump administration has told a federal court that the president can restrict reporters’ access to the White House, including on the basis of their reporting, arguing that protecting national security gives him broad authority over who can enter the complex.In a court filing late Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right” and said the administration could deny journalists access to restricted presidential areas even for “viewpoint-discriminatory reasons”.The filing came hours before an emergency hearing in Washington over the Trump administration’s decision to revoke the White House hard passes of CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
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