CNN commentator Scott Jennings questioned the likely impact of Donald Trump’s decision to bar the network from the White House during Monday night’s broadcast.
Sara Sidner, who was filling in as host of NewsNight, pressed Jennings on the issue just minutes into the program.
She asked whether he “support[s]” the President’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW, while joking that Jennings’ “name is up for running for the next press secretary.”
Jennings, 48, said the order was “unlikely to prevail in court” — his first point.
“B, it seems to me the net result of this has been — he has less reach. I mean, his message is not going to get out as much,” said the former George W. Bush aide.
“If this sort of becomes the way it is, he will be seen and heard by fewer people — which I think is actually a net negative, since he’s his own best spokesperson and his own best press secretary.”
Jennings’ “number three” point was that Trump’s “sparring with some of these folks in the Oval works to his advantage.”
“And so if you take them out, you lose that a little bit.”
Jennings Warns Trump’s Ban Could Be “Self-Defeating”
Jennings said the order, issued in a Truth Social post on Friday, was “unlikely to stick.”
He also suggested the move could ultimately “be a little self-defeating.”
“If you consider that you want the President to be heard and seen more, like I do.
“This seems to be working against that. So, we’ll see what happens.”
The diplomatic criticism prompted a smile from Washington Post foreign policy columnist Josh Rogin.
He then asked Jennings: “So, if you’re press secretary, you’re not going to do that? Is that what you’re pledging here right now?”
The conservative commentator replied that he would not answer a “hypothetical.”
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“Oh, let me — can I add one more thing?” he said as the discussion began to move on.
Jennings Separates CNN and Politico From MS NOW
“I actually think there’s a difference between, truthfully, CNN and Politico and MS NOW.
“You watch MS NOW for ten minutes, it’s like total alternate reality. I actually think there’s a difference.”
Progressive panelist Ashley Allison quickly responded that “some” people would make the same argument about Fox News.
“Yes, Obama, he said that about Fox News,” Jennings replied, referring to the then-president’s unsuccessful effort to exclude Major Garrett, then one of the network’s stars, from a multipool interview in 2009.
Other networks objected, and Garrett was ultimately included. He now works for CBS.
“But he didn’t kick them out, did he?” Allison countered.
Sidner, standing in for Abby Phillip, pressed Jennings again, asking directly whether he “support[ed] the President’s ban on the press?”
“Because — I mean, you work here at CNN,” she added. “Do you think the journalists here are reporting fake news?”
Jennings said he “sometimes strongly disagrees with” the way his colleagues “frame” stories. “But, no, I think we need to cover the news here,” he added.
“And I think we still can cover the news, but I consider this to be a news outlet.
“I consider Politico to be a news outlet. MS is a different story, in my view.”
All three outlets have said they are suing the administration in federal court, alleging violations of the First Amendment.
A Politico report in August said Jennings had sent clips of his recent on-air defenses of Natalie Harp to the White House as he sought to replace outgoing Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt, 29, announced earlier in the month that she was leaving the White House to spend more time with her family. The position remains vacant.
