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Fox News Joins Other Networks in Challenging Trump's Press Ban
Confirmed
In Short: Fox News, known for its close ties to President Donald Trump, has taken an unexpected stance by joining other networks in challenging the White House's ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW.
According to insiders, Fox News did not hesitate to participate in the White House TV pool, which includes ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC, despite the administration's ban.
Fox News' bond with Trump is well-documented, but the network is also aware that a future Democratic administration could potentially ban it, similar to how Trump has barred CNN.
At a press conference in Alaska, Fox News correspondent John Roberts and chief White House correspondent Peter Doocy emerged as lead actors in the standoff between the White House press corps and the administration.
During the press conference, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Fox News correspondent John Roberts discussed the media ban, with Roberts ensuring that all media members would be allowed to film the event.
Despite Trump's assertion that he would boycott Fox News, the network has continued to cover the president's activities, including the press conference in Alaska.
The three banned outlets have filed a lawsuit against the White House, seeking to restore their press credentials and protect their First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit argues that the ban violates the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause, as it deprives the press of their rights based solely on the content of their reporting.
When asked about the ban, Trump defended his actions, stating that he does not think courts should allow 'fake news' to be written day after day.
The White House and the Justice Department have not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
What this adds
The lawsuit filed by CNN, Politico, and MS NOW seeks to protect the First Amendment rights of the press and challenge the constitutionality of the ban.
What's confirmed
- "This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes," the three news organizations said in a joint statement Monday.
What's still developing
- Inside Fox News this week, journalists have kept an eye on the past and the future, according to people with knowledge of its internal deliberations.
- The right-wing channel Newsmax is opposed to Trump’s press ban, according to its CEO, Christopher Ruddy.
- At a glance, it’s an unlikely position for Fox News, wrought in part by history and in part by sheer coincidence.
- And it’s confused some liberal Fox critics and caused some heartburn for Trump hard-liners.
- Fox News is one of the five major networks — the others are ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC — that form the presidential TV pool, sharing the duties and costs of generating video footage of Trump’s everyday activities.
- "It's interesting because they said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycott me. So I wasn't very worried about that," Trump said, making a point about the press members who crowded the Mayor's residence to capture the president and mayor on camera.
- Discussions seemed to go smoothly, as indicated by the two during a presser held after the meeting.
- The three outlets are asking a federal judge in Washington to restore their reporters' credentials after the White House seized their press passes Saturday CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump and three senior administration officials, asking a federal judge to strike down his ban barring their reporters from the White House and immediately restore their press credentials.
- Trump announced the ban on Friday, saying he objected to the outlets' coverage of his administration.
- Trump said Friday that the ban was worthwhile even if courts overturned it.
- "The President banned CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO, and the individual reporters covering the news for those media organizations, in disregard of the most basic guarantees of the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause," the lawsuit says.
- “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” Trump wrote.