BREAKING: CNN FIRES BACK After Trump Bans Network From White House!

Donald Trump’s threat to ban three major news organizations from the White House has moved from social media to the gates of the White House itself.

And CNN is firing back.

Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO were denied access to the White House grounds Saturday morning, one day after Trump announced that all three organizations were banned “effective immediately.”

According to Reuters, the three organizations separately said their teams’ White House press passes were confiscated when their journalists arrived for work.

CNN confirmed that its journalists had been denied access and made clear that the network has no intention of stopping its coverage of the administration.

“CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue,” the network said, adding that the ban represents “an illegal assault” on a fundamental constitutional right.

The confrontation began Friday when Trump announced on Truth Social that CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO would no longer be permitted at the White House.

Trump accused the organizations of reporting what he called “FAKE NEWS,” “FICTION” and “LIES.”

And he suggested the three organizations might not be the last.

“Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” Trump wrote.

Later Friday, Trump was confronted directly about the First Amendment implications of the decision.

Asked by a reporter how he justified banning news organizations after taking an oath to uphold the Constitution, Trump defended the move by once again accusing the outlets of publishing fake news.

“There’s something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories,” Trump said.

Trump argued that news organizations were free to publish those stories but that he did not have to allow them into what he called “the people’s house.”

“Very simple ban,” Trump added. “I don’t want them in my office. I don’t want them here.”

For several hours, however, there was uncertainty over whether Trump’s announcement would actually be enforced.

That uncertainty disappeared Saturday morning.

MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner said that when she attempted to enter the White House, an officer told her that her badge had been disabled and asked her to hand it over.

When Gardner asked why she could not enter, she said the officer told her the decision came from above him.

CNN journalists were subsequently denied access as well, and POLITICO said its White House team was also barred.

All three organizations have indicated that they intend to defend their First Amendment rights.

MS NOW said it would take whatever steps it considered necessary to protect those rights and the role of independent journalism, while POLITICO said it stood behind its White House reporters.

CNN’s response was particularly direct.

Before the ban was enforced, CNN had warned that preventing its journalists from doing their jobs would constitute an illegal infringement on a constitutionally protected right.

After its journalists were actually turned away Saturday, the network hardened that response, saying its reporting would continue regardless of attempts to restrict physical access to government buildings.

The confrontation also carries some significant legal history.

During Trump’s first term, his White House attempted to revoke CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials following a contentious press conference.

CNN went to court.

A federal judge ordered Acosta’s White House credential temporarily restored, and the administration ultimately restored his access.

Trump’s administration has faced another major press-access dispute more recently involving the Associated Press. The AP challenged restrictions imposed after it declined to adopt Trump’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.

Whether CNN, MS NOW or POLITICO will now file their own lawsuits over the latest ban remains to be seen.

Reuters reports that the organizations have signaled they may challenge the restrictions on First Amendment grounds. That is different from saying a lawsuit has already been filed.

But one thing is no longer hypothetical.

Trump said the three news organizations were banned.

On Saturday, their journalists arrived at the White House — and were turned away.

And CNN has made clear that it considers what happened an illegal infringement on its constitutional rights.

The next fight could be over whether a president can keep journalists out of the White House because he objects to their coverage.