US Justice Department cites national security in White House press ban

The US Department of Justice stated that President Donald Trump has the authority to bar media outlets, including CNN, Politico, and MS Now, from White House access for national security reasons. The department told a court that the president determined these outlets' coverage threatened national security, citing CNN's report on a planned secret bunker and coverage of the Iran conflict, among other stories. The administration argues White House access is a privilege, not a right. The ban, implemented last week, has sparked debate in US media over potential violations of press freedom.