Trump administration defends White House press access restrictions as privilege, not right

The Trump administration has argued in a legal filing that White House access is "a privilege, not a right," defending its decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from restricted presidential areas. The move follows the outlets' exclusion over coverage disagreements, with a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday. The Justice Department contends the government can control journalist access to areas like the Oval Office, even for discriminatory reasons tied to coverage disputes, and cites national security concerns. The outlets are accused of publishing sensitive or classified information regarding the Iran war and White House construction projects. The White House press office sent letters detailing coverage incidents and accusing the media of spreading falsehoods about an ammunition shortage, which a Pentagon report confirmed. CNN was also faulted for revealing top-secret details about a bunker project, with the outlets given until Friday to formally contest their bans.