BS BULLETIN:

• President Trump announced that “CNN,” “MS NOW,” and “POLITICO” are banned from the White House “effective immediately.”
• Trump accused the three outlets of repeatedly reporting “fiction and lies” and warned that other news organizations could be next.
• The announcement immediately drew constitutional objections, while the exact mechanics of enforcing the ban remained unclear Friday.

President Donald Trump just dramatically escalated his war with the media — and he says he isn’t finished.

Trump announced Friday that “CNN,” “MS NOW,” and “POLITICO” are banned from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing the three news organizations of repeatedly publishing what he considers false reporting.

In his Truth Social announcement, Trump wrote:

“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS! Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump later told reporters that the decision wasn’t prompted by one particular story but by what he described as a buildup of negative coverage over the past several years.

Asked how the prohibition would work, Trump called it “a very simple ban.” He also complained about The New York Times and The Washington Post and indicated additional outlets could eventually face similar treatment.

Exactly what “banned from the White House” will mean in practice was still unsettled.

Reporters from the targeted organizations were still working on White House grounds after Trump’s announcement Friday, and the White House had not publicly detailed whether credentials would be revoked or whether the outlets would be excluded from briefings, events, the press pool or the grounds entirely.

CNN responded that it stood behind its White House team and argued that carrying out Trump’s threatened ban would violate constitutionally protected press freedoms.

POLITICO likewise said it would continue covering the White House and would “vigorously defend” its First Amendment rights against attempts to restrict its reporters.

Trump, meanwhile, maintained that he supports freedom of the press while arguing that the press must also be “fair and honest.”

And judging by the final line of his announcement — “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow” — CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO may only be the opening round.

DBS WIRE SOURCES:

• CBS News — Trump says he’s banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico
• Reuters — Trump bans media outlets from White House
• Axios — Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico
• New York Post — Trump announces White House ban
• ABC News — Trump says other outlets will follow