MS NOW has vowed to defend its journalists and challenge what it described as an attempt to restrict independent journalism after President Donald Trump announced a ban on the network from the White House.

The development escalated on Saturday when MS NOW journalists were reportedly denied access to the White House grounds, a day after Trump announced that the network, CNN and Politico would no longer be allowed into the complex.

MS NOW said it would take steps to defend its constitutional rights and continue reporting on the Trump administration despite the restriction.

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

MS NOW

“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.”

The network also said it stood firmly behind its journalists.

“We stand firmly behind our anchors, our reporters, and our newsroom. We will continue to report on the President, the administration, and the issues that impact the American people,” MS NOW said.

The confrontation followed Trump’s announcement on Friday that he was banning MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House.

Trump announced the move on his Truth Social platform, accusing the three outlets of what he called “FAKE NEWS” reporting.

“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, according to reports.

Speaking later at an event in the Oval Office, Trump was asked why he was excluding the organisations.

“Because they’re fake news,” he said, adding that he was tired of reading and seeing what he described as fake news.

Trump also indicated that other media organisations could face similar restrictions. He did not identify a specific report or incident that prompted the ban, instead referring to what he described as the cumulative nature of coverage over the previous two years.

The White House began enforcing the restriction Saturday morning.

MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner said she attempted to use her press badge to enter the White House grounds but was informed that it had been disabled.

CBS News reported seeing Gardner and an MS NOW cameraman turned away from the complex, with both of their hard passes revoked. Gardner also said an MS NOW photographer had his badge taken.

“This is the first action we know of, of them actually denying us entry into the White House,” Gardner said on MS NOW.

The development has intensified an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and sections of the American news media over access to the White House and the limits of presidential authority over press access.

CNN has also rejected the restriction, saying it stands behind its White House team and its reporting.

“We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” CNN said, according to AP.

Politico similarly said it would continue reporting on the administration and would defend its First Amendment rights against attempts to restrict its journalists.

Press freedom organisations have also raised constitutional concerns over the move.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said a ban based on disagreement with a news organisation’s coverage would face serious constitutional problems, while the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University argued that the First Amendment restricts government officials from punishing journalists because of their coverage.

The dispute also recalls previous conflicts between the Trump administration and major media organisations.

During Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to revoke the White House press credentials of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta following a contentious exchange with the president. A federal judge subsequently ordered the credential restored.

More recently, the administration restricted Associated Press access after the news organisation declined to adopt Trump’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico. That dispute also resulted in litigation over press access.

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