Trump bars CNN, Politico and MS NOW journalists from White House

US President Donald Trump has barred journalists from CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, escalating his long-running dispute with news organisations over their coverage of his administration.

The White House on Saturday denied access to journalists from the three outlets and confiscated or deactivated their press credentials, following Trump's announcement a day earlier that they would be banned from the building's grounds. All three organisations have indicated they plan to challenge the move on First Amendment grounds, says the BBC.

Trump announced the restrictions on Truth Social, citing what he described as the outlets' "constant 'reporting' of fake news". He said he was not obligated to allow reporters into the White House who were writing "purposely negative stories". Trump also said the decision was not prompted by any single incident.

The White House Correspondents Association and media watchdog groups condemned the restrictions, arguing that the government cannot discriminate against journalists based on the content of their reporting.

CNN, Politico and MS NOW each said they would defend their First Amendment rights. The outlets said the restrictions would not prevent them from continuing to cover the administration.

The dispute is the latest in a series of clashes between Trump's administration and news organisations. The administration has previously restricted access for individual journalists and outlets, including CNN correspondent Jim Acosta and Associated Press reporters. Some previous restrictions were reversed after legal challenges.

The latest action comes after a difficult week for the Trump administration, which faced setbacks involving the Supreme Court, the Federal Reserve and a federal court ruling concerning the Kennedy Center.

The Supreme Court blocked Trump's plan to impose new restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections, according to the information provided. Trump subsequently criticised the justices, including some whom he appointed.

The Federal Reserve also raised interest rates despite months of public pressure from Trump for lower rates. Separately, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide 30 days' advance notice before implementing changes or alterations at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

The developments come as Trump faces broader political and economic pressures. His second-term approval ratings have fallen to record lows, while higher consumer and energy prices linked to the war in Iran have added to concerns over the economy.

With the November midterm elections approaching, polling cited in the supplied information indicates that Republicans face challenges in retaining control of both chambers of Congress. Recent Trump campaign events, including a Texas Republican Party convention, have not so far reversed the negative public sentiment described in those polls.

The White House media restrictions could now lead to another legal confrontation over the scope of presidential authority and First Amendment protections for journalists covering the government.