US argues president can bar media from White House for security

The Trump administration has argued in court that the president can ban media outlets from the White House for national security reasons, following the exclusion of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. The Justice Department stated the ban is legal, asserting the president can control access to restricted areas like the Oval Office, even for viewpoint-discriminatory reasons, and called White House access a privilege, not a right. The three outlets have sued the administration, claiming the ban violates First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press, and are seeking a temporary restraining order in federal court.