MS Now Journalists Denied White House Entry Following Donald Trump’s Announced Ban

President Donald Trump is following through on pledge to ban journalists he doesn’t like from the White House: This morning, MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, announced that its journalists had been denied access to the White House grounds. In a statement posted on social media today, the news network wrote, “Earlier this morning, MS NOW journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars. MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy. We stand firmly behind our anchors, our reporters, and our newsroom. We will continue to report on the President, the administration, and the issues that impact the American people.” Yesterday Trump announced that he intended to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House due to what he claims are “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Watch on Deadline “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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. This morning, MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner appeared on screen to detail what happened when she arrived at the White House. Watch Gardner’s report below. “I showed my badge,” she said, “and then when I was inside where we have magnetometers, I attempted to scan my badge, which we have to do to get into the White House grounds. It did not work. There was a red beeping light, and so the officer asked me to hand over my badge. He said that it was disabled. I asked why I could not get inside. He said it was above him.” Gardner said an MS NOW photographer also was denied entry and had a badge confiscated, although an MS NOW producer was able to gain White House entry. Gardner added that MS NOW journalists were permitted on the White House grounds yesterday, and that today’s actions were the first stemming from Trump’s threats.