A white‑collar press badge, once a key to the Oval Office, was deactivated for Akayla Gardner, an MS NOW reporter, when she arrived at the White House Saturday morning. The badge was confiscated by a security officer who said the decision was "above him".
Trump’s ban was announced on Friday via Truth Social, where he called the outlets’ reporting "fake news" and warned others could face similar actions. He did not cite a specific story as the trigger, citing a vague "cumulative record" instead.
MS NOW said the White House belongs to the American people and would take "any and all steps necessary" to defend First Amendment rights. One producer, however, was allowed onto the grounds, raising questions about selective access.
The move follows a pattern of clashes: the administration has recently restricted AP access to certain White House areas and filed lawsuits against the BBC, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal for alleged defamation.
MS NOW has filed a formal complaint with the Justice Department and is preparing a lawsuit; a federal court hearing is slated for July 12, while the White House has promised to review its badge policy.