BS BULLETIN:

• Natalie Harp reportedly showed President Trump clips of MS NOW anchors criticizing his administration Friday.
• The Wall Street Journal reports Trump’s frustration reached a “fever pitch.”
• Hours later, Trump announced that MS NOW, CNN and Politico were banned from the White House.

There may be a new answer to the question of what finally pushed President Donald Trump over the edge with three major news organizations.

Or at least, there’s a new version of the behind-the-scenes drama making the rounds.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump’s longtime executive aide Natalie Harp showed him clips Friday of MS NOW anchors criticizing his administration. The account comes from “people familiar with the matter” — that wonderfully mysterious species of Washington source who always seems to be standing just outside the camera frame.

According to those sources, Trump had already been unhappy with media coverage for months, but his frustration reached a “fever pitch” after seeing the clips. Hours later, Trump announced that MS NOW, CNN and Politico were no longer welcome at the White House.

Nobody named in the room has publicly confirmed that Harp’s TV clips were the final straw, so we’ll leave that part where it belongs for now: an intriguing piece of White House backstage reporting, not a fact carved into the Resolute desk.

Trump posted his decision on Truth Social:

I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them “alive.” Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant “reporting” FAKE NEWS!

The president followed with another warning that additional outlets could be next.

“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,” Trump wrote.

“Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”

Trump subsequently told reporters the decision reflected “cumulative stories over the last two years.”

But the Journal’s reporting provides new detail about what happened immediately before he pulled the trigger.

Trump has privately complained that too few political allies are appearing on television to defend him and promote his second-term accomplishments, according to the Journal.

White House spokesman Steven Cheung disputed any suggestion that Trump’s allies aren’t getting the job done, telling the newspaper they have “done an incredible job of getting the message out to voters.”

The decision apparently surprised more than the targeted news organizations.

Many White House officials were caught off guard, the Journal reported, and one senior administration official privately expressed exasperation, arguing that banning the outlets was unlikely to improve their coverage.

Trump had considered banning news organizations before, according to the report, but aides had previously persuaded him to pursue narrower restrictions instead.

This time, the ban stuck.

By Saturday, reporters from all three organizations were being turned away.

CNN’s Betsy Klein said her White House badge had been deactivated. Politico said a Secret Service officer confiscated reporter Cheyenne Haslett’s pass. MS NOW’s Akayla Gardner said her badge stopped working and was taken away.

All three organizations have condemned the move and said they intend to defend their press-access rights.

The White House Correspondents’ Association has also objected. Its president, Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, called for the outlets’ access to be restored.

The new reporting, however, adds another intriguing character to the story.

Harp has become one of Trump’s most recognizable behind-the-scenes aides, frequently seen following the president with a portable printer and providing him with articles, social-media material and other information.

And according to the Journal, on Friday she brought him something from MS NOW.

A few hours later, three press corps badges were headed for retirement.

MY QUICK TAKE:

Every president has somebody who brings him the morning news.

Trump apparently has somebody who brings him the morning news — and occasionally creates three job openings on the White House lawn.

DBS WIRE SOURCES:

• Wall Street Journal — Wave of setbacks leaves Trump frustrated and looking for credit
• Mediaite — Trump launched press ban after Natalie Harp showed him MS NOW clip
• Associated Press — Trump targets CNN, MS NOW and Politico with White House ban
• Wall Street Journal — Three news outlets denied entry to White House after Trump ban
• ABC News — Trump says he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico