1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong disagreement with President Trump’s decision to restrict access to news organizations because of their reporting. Most recently, the White House announced that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would be barred from the White House, citing what the administration described as “fake news.” I believe a free and independent press is essential to a functioning democracy. The government should not be able to determine which news organizations are allowed access based on whether their reporting is favorable to the president. Journalists need to be able to ask difficult questions, investigate those in power, and report information that the public needs to make informed decisions. I understand that news organizations can make mistakes and that presidents have legitimate reasons to criticize inaccurate reporting. However, restricting press access in response to unfavorable coverage creates a serious concern about government retaliation against journalism. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press, and I believe that protection matters regardless of which political party controls the White House. I hope our elected officials will defend the independence of the press and the public’s right to receive information from a wide range of sources