'White House access privilege, not right': DOJ cites national security behind Trump barring reporters

File photo: An updated solidarity sign adding CNN, MSNOW and POLITICO hangs outside the Associated Press booth at the White House grounds after US President Donald Trump banned three major news outlets – CNN, MS The Trump administration has told a federal court that the president can restrict reporters’ access to the White House, including on the basis of their reporting, arguing that protecting national security gives him broad authority over who can enter the complex.In a court filing late Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right” and said the administration could deny journalists access to restricted presidential areas even for “viewpoint-discriminatory reasons”.The filing came hours before an emergency hearing in Washington over the Trump administration’s decision to revoke the White House hard passes of CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The three news organisations are asking the court to restore their access.The administration has argued that the journalists’ reporting on sensitive and classified information has raised national security concerns.What the DOJ is arguingThe Justice Department said the White House is a highly con...