Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that Donald Trump’s decision to bar several news organizations was addressing what he called a “national security problem” created by inaccurate reporting.
The President recently excluded MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House. All three organizations have gone to court in an effort to regain access.
Blanche defended the administration’s position during an appearance on ABC News Sunday, where anchor Martha Raddatz challenged the claim that the restrictions were necessary for national security.
“Our position has been clear from the beginning. What they say is exactly the issue when it comes to national security,” he told Raddatz.
Raddatz responded: “Give us an example.”
Blanche appeared taken aback. “I’m sorry, wait—give you an example of when CNN doesn’t report accurately?” he asked.
“You cannot be asking me that! They don’t even disagree. There’s not even a real dispute that the information coming out of CNN and some of these other networks is wholly and completely, almost 100 percent negative towards the President,” he continued.
Raddatz then pressed Blanche about a ruling by Judge Timothy Kelly, who determined that the media restrictions were not based on national security.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said Trump’s restrictions on several mainstream media outlets were intended to address a “national security problem” caused by inaccurate reporting
MS NOW, CNN and Politico were recently barred from the White House and have each sought to restore their access through the courts
“I’m not going to talk about the specifics of what the judge said. That wouldn’t be right,” Blanche replied.
“What I’m talking about is the government’s position and what the Department of Justice said in court, which is the same thing President Trump has said repeatedly: At some point, the complete misinformation, inaccuracy and one-sided news coming from certain organizations becomes a national security issue—and it’s not right for the people of the United States to have to put up with it.”
The exchange grew more heated when Raddatz asked whether the White House planned to screen journalists before they boarded a flight with Trump or entered the White House.
“I did not say that! No, no, I did not say that! You don’t get to put words in my mouth!” Blanche shot back.
Raddatz acknowledged that Blanche had “a right to defend yourself there.”
“I’m not defending myself! You said I said something that I didn’t say!” he replied.
Blanche ultimately said journalists were free to “report whatever they want,” but argued that access to the White House was not guaranteed.
“When it comes to the White House, it is the people’s house. It is a privilege and not a right to be there,” he said.
Blanche became angry when anchor Martha Raddatz asked him to explain why the outlets were considered a security threat
He said Americans should expect the news they consume to contain “even a whiff of accuracy about what’s actually happening,” adding that the President had the right to criticize outlets that failed to meet that standard.
“And if that’s not happening, then it is absolutely the president’s duty to make sure that the American people are hearing accurate news. It doesn’t have to be good for the president. It doesn’t have to be that everything is positive about what is happening in the administration,” he said.
Trump announced the ban last Friday in an angry social media post accusing the outlets of spreading “fake news.” Before the restrictions were made public, his aide Natalie Harp reportedly showed him a collection of negative reports from the organizations.
Despite the court ruling, a Politico reporter’s credentials were seized Thursday after the decision allowing the outlet to return took effect. An MS NOW journalist was also reportedly denied entry after having their credentials taken.
The three organizations filed suit against the Trump administration on Monday, and the case has moved quickly through the courts.
In a show of solidarity, major broadcasters including Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC—the television pool that shares responsibility for covering presidential events—refused to cover the President in response to the restrictions.
The White House appeared to reverse course Thursday, allowing reporters back inside after initially turning them away ahead of the summit between Trump and Xi Jinping.
“CNN was allowed back into the White House on Thursday at noon,” host Kaitlan Collins posted on X after the confusion.
Television news positions on the North Lawn of the White House are shown with the West Wing in the background
The apparent reversal came after U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order early Thursday, effectively requiring the Trump administration to restore access for Politico, CNN and MS NOW, which had been barred the previous Friday.
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The order will remain in effect for 14 days as the broader legal dispute continues.
During the hearing, Kelly signaled skepticism about the President’s decision to remove access for selected journalists, saying the White House had not provided “constitutionally adequate due process.”
Ted Boutrous, the attorney representing the news organizations, told CNN after the ruling: “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”
The White House appeared to have anticipated a ruling in favor of the media outlets. Trump said Tuesday that he would “probably” allow them to return if ordered to do so by the courts.
Trump also wrote on social media that he expected Kelly to rule against the administration.
“They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet,” the President wrote, promising to appeal the decision.
Trump appointed Kelly to the federal district court in Washington in 2017.
Hours after the Trump administration was ordered to restore access for CNN and MS NOW, both networks said they had been barred from covering the President’s state dinner with China’s Xi Jinping
A reporter was directed to “talk to Steven,” referring to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung
The apparent truce between Trump and the press lasted only a few hours. CNN announced live on air that it had again been denied access as White House preparations for the state dinner got underway.
“CNN was denied access moments ago to cover the guest arrivals for President Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping,” Erin Burnett said.
Burnett reported that the White House had refused to confirm whether the ban had actually been lifted.
She said it remained unclear “if, when CNN could return” to its White House coverage.
MS NOW senior producer Kyle Griffin also confirmed that his network had been refused entry.
The network’s White House correspondent, Laura Barrón-López, said on air that a staff member told her to “talk to Steven,” referring to Communications Director Steven Cheung.
The dispute has limited broad media coverage of the meetings, with major broadcasters largely declining to air the events live.
Newer outlets, including the MAGA-friendly Real America’s Voice, have moved in to fill the gap with YouTube livestreams.
MS NOW White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López said a staff member told her to “talk to Steven,” referring to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung
CNN White House correspondent Betsy Klein works at the White House after regaining access earlier Thursday
On Saturday, MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner drew the President’s attention when she asked: “Do you only want outlets that support you to be a part of the press pool?”
“No, no, I want real news. Not fake news, like you,” Trump replied.
CNN had been scheduled to cover the President’s trip to Knoxville, but LindellTV, a station owned by Trump ally Mike Lindell, took its place.
“I love an open, free press. What I don’t like is the fake press, with a group like CNN, with a few people watching, or MSDNC, which they changed I guess to NOW,” Trump said, referring to Gardner’s network, formerly known as MSNBC.
“You know why they changed it? Because their ratings are so bad. What I don’t like—wait, wait, quiet,” Trump continued as Gardner responded.
“Do you not want tough questions, sir?” she asked.
“What I don’t like is fake news, and they are 100 percent fake news. 100 percent. In two years,” Trump said as the reporter repeated her question.
“In two years I doubt they did one good story and I won the election in a landslide,” the President added, appearing to point toward Gardner. “So what we don’t want is fake news!”
Gardner, one of the reporters turned away by the administration the previous week, later posted a transcript of the exchange on X.
Because CNN and MS NOW remain caught up in the dispute, the broadcast tents they once used on White House grounds sit vacant and dark. Their correspondents have instead been filing live reports from streets outside the presidential residence.
It remains unclear when the White House will formally restore the outlets’ credentials.
