One of the most talked-about issues facing the White House right now is the media ban, which viral reporter Kaitlan Collins thinks is directly related to famous aide Natalie Harp.
This month, President Donald Trump made controversial headlines when he banned several media outlets from attending White House press briefings and other events. The president cited the news publications and networks as ‘fake news’ and banned them following months of back-and-forth tension with journalists. CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, who has had several run-ins with Trump, recently came forward to share her belief that the ban came after his close aide, Natalie Harp, showed him news clips that ‘infuriated’ him. Read more about the situation below.
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President Trump Enforces Media Ban For Several News Outlets
On September 18th, President Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO would be barred from the White House, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he called "fake news." Trump said the decision was based on their coverage of his administration and suggested that other news organizations could face similar restrictions.
"I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico...from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" he wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post. "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. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."
The ban took effect the following day, when reporters from the three outlets were denied entry to the White House grounds and had their press credentials deactivated or confiscated. The move has prompted a legal debate over the government's ability to restrict journalists' access based on their coverage. The three media outlets have challenged the ban in federal court, arguing that it amounts to retaliation for protected First Amendment activity, and other outlets have since boycotted White House events and suspended their TV coverage in solidarity.
Kaitlan Collins Alleges Natalie Harp Was Behind The Ban
The White House media ban hasn't come as a major surprise to those who have been following the Apprentice star's political career for years, as he's been notorious for his public feuds with media organizations and 'fake news' allegations. However, what has come as a surprise has been claims made by acclaimed CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins earlier this week, suggesting the president's famous assistant, Natalie Harp, might've had a big influence on the ban taking place.
According to the CNN chief White House correspondent, Trump's decision to bar the three news outlets from the White House may have been prompted by Natalie showing him a graphic featuring negative coverage of his administration from Politico last week, and sources familiar with the situation said the material reportedly "infuriated" him. The reporter, who has had public incidents with the 80-year-old, stated that after watching what his aide showed him, he watched additional television clips that he felt portrayed him or his administration in a bad way.
"That is why he ultimately made this move on Friday," she claimed, according to CNN transcripts. "He's actually talked about this before. He's wanted to ban outlets from the Oval Office before because of the coverage or the questions that he doesn't like. And now he's taking this move here by instituting this. And it actually caught a lot of people in the White House off guard, John. I mean, I asked people this weekend, and a lot of them said they weren't really sure. The only thing they could point to was the president being shown that negative coverage by Natalie Harp last week. And so that drove this decision."
