Following an order from President Donald Trump prohibiting journalists from entry to the White House, several members of major news networks in the United States reacted, saying they will invoke freedom of the press amidst what appears an attempt to shackle rights to free speech.
From outside the gates of the Executive Mansion, Cable News Network (CNN)’s Betsy Klein, Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett as well as My Source (MS) Now’s Akayla Gardner and her camera operator found themselves barred and denied access.
Gardner was forced to report from outside the gates where she said: “This is the first action we know of of them actually denying us entry into the White House.”
Reacting to this, Politico editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger declared in the newsroom: “We stand by (Haslett) and all reporters here covering the White House (. . .) We will vigorously defend our first amendment rights.”
In support, MS Now commented: “(We) intend to take any and all steps necessary to defend our first amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
CNN for its part stressed strongly: “We have a right under the U(nited) S(tastes) constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right.”
