Ambassador Mike Waltz Supports Trump’s Ban on Certain News Outlets

On Sunday during CNN’s “State of the Union,” the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, expressed his approval of President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the White House.

Anchor Dana Bash remarked, “On Friday, President Trump banned CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from White House access. The president is set to host the Chinese leader, and historically, it’s been the U.S. advocating for greater press freedoms in places like China. Now, though, it seems President Trump is going in the opposite direction regarding these rights. Do you find this acceptable?”

Waltz replied, “The president absolutely has the authority to restrict journalists from accessing government spaces, especially if he feels they aren’t acting in good faith,” emphasizing that this perspective aligns with Supreme Court rulings. “I’m not a lawyer, but there are several relevant cases, like Zemel v. Rusk. Yes, you can speak freely and publish as a press, but that doesn’t mean you have an automatic right to access any government location, whether it’s Langley or the White House. I’d leave the legalities to the experts, but I truly believe the president is correct on this.”

Bash interjected, “Mr. Ambassador, you’re a distinguished veteran who spent 27 years in the Green Berets defending freedoms like the First Amendment. The president you represent has just banned three news organizations, claiming it’s due to unfavorable reporting.”

Waltz responded, “Dana, the previous administration had its own limitations on various media and journalists they considered right-leaning. Those restrictions have been lifted, but the current president feels many aren’t acting in good faith. Just yesterday, I saw a report quoting anonymous sources about a deceased individual. I hope the media reflects on its practices — they often make sensational claims and then provide small corrections that hardly anyone notices, which can damage reputations. It’s frustrating to witness, especially when you’re serving in public office. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has made it clear over the decades that the right to speak or publish differs from the right to access government facilities.”