WHITE HOUSE BARS NEWS OUTLETS JUDGED UNFRIENDLY FROM BRIEFING

Journalists from several organizations, including CNN, Politico, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times were not allowed to enter the West Wing office of the press secretary, Sean M. Spicer, for a scheduled briefing. 

Aides to Mr. Spicer only allowed in reporters from a handpicked group of news organizations. Those organizations included Breitbart News, the One America News Network and The Washington Times, all with conservative leanings. Journalists from ABC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Fox News also attended. Reporters from Time magazine and The Associated Press, who were set to be allowed in, chose not to attend the briefing in protest of the White House’s actions.

The White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents the press corps, issued a quick rebuke of the White House’s action. Nothing like this has ever happened at the White House in history

The White House move came hours after Mr. Trump delivered a slashing attack on the news media in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The president denounced news organizations as “dishonest” purveyors of “fake news” and mocked journalists for claiming free speech rights.

“They always bring up the First Amendment,” Mr. Trump said to cheers.