MS NOW journalists say they were denied entry to the White House

NEW YORK (AP) — MS NOW – formerly MSNBC -- says its journalists were denied access to the White House Saturday morning.

The action comes a day after United States President Donald Trump said he would ban the network and two other news outlets from the White House.

MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner announced on air that she was turned away and her entry badge confiscated.

Gardener said she walked through two gates successfully, but once she got to where her badge needed to be scanned, an officer told her it was disabled and asked her to hand it over.

He said the decision “was above him,” she reported.

Gardener said an MS NOW producer was able to get in, but a photographer’s badge was also disabled.

There was no immediate word about access for CNN and Politico, the other two networks Trump said he would be banned.

The action escalated Trump’s long-running efforts to restrict news coverage by journalists he finds objectionable and looks set to become the latest test of First Amendment protections in the United States.

MS NOW said in a statement that it stands behind its journalists.

“The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” the network said Saturday.

“MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”

Trump announced Friday that he would bar MS NOW, along with CNN and Politico, from the White House due to what he called “unfavourable coverage and fake news”.

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