Rubio defends Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
The White House launched 'Trump TV' as major networks suspended the television pool covering the US president.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended US President Donald Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, arguing that the administration has restricted their access to the presidential complex rather than their ability to operate as news organisations.
“We’re not closing CNN,” Rubio said in an interview on Tuesday with NBC. “There aren’t a bunch of police officers or soldiers kicking down the doors of MSNBC or MS NOW, whatever it’s called, and arresting people and unplugging it from the grid. They’re just not allowed to work from the workspace at the White House.”
Rubio is the latest senior administration official to defend the decision, after US Vice President JD Vance also backed the move.
Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing the three outlets of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news” about his administration. The White House said the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects the right to publish but does not guarantee access to the White House, briefing room, or presidential press pool.