Trump turns to ‘national security’ crutch to defend his media ban citing coverage on Iran War and the ballroom

The Justice Department argued in a court filing Tuesday that President Donald Trump has the authority to bar CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House on “national security” grounds, urging a federal judge not to suspend the restrictions.The three outlets sued after Trump abruptly revoked their reporters’ White House access on Friday, arguing the restriction amounts to a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment. A hearing on their request for a temporary order restoring that access is scheduled for Wednesday.In the DOJ’s telling, the ban doesn’t violate the First Amendment, because, it argued, “access to the White House is a privilege—not a right.”“CNN, MSNOW, and Politico have long been granted privileged access to White House grounds,” department attorneys wrote in the court filing. “But the President concluded that they have failed to maintain basic minimum ‘standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex, including’ by ‘publishing sensitive or classified information.’”Letters were sent to the three outlets outlining a “non-exhaustive list” of incidents in which their reporters “have threatened national security and spread falsehoods,” the filing states.The Department of Justice argued President Donald Trump can bar reporters from the White House for national security (Reuters)The letter cited stories on President Trump’s White House ballroom, weapons stockpiles impacted by the Iran war and Russian sanctions.Trump abruptly announced on Friday that the three organizations were being banned from the White House “effective immediately.” “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,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”This is a breaking story...