The Trump administration caused an uproar on Friday when reporters from outlets such as the New York Times, Politico and CNN were barred from the White House press briefing.
Trump critics in the media and entertainment spheres have been outspoken about the move on social media, with some calling it an attack on the First Amendment. Others applauded reporters from Time magazine and the Associated Press for walking out of the briefing in protest.
“Trump is only allowing media that supports him,” wrote actor and director Mark Duplass. “That is dictatorship, plain & simple. Who is going to stand up and challenge this maniac?”
The aggressive move by the White House came just hours after President Donald Trump addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference and spent 13 of his 48-minute speech denouncing the “dishonest” media. “They are the worst,” he said.
Washington Post editor Marty Baron also slammed the decision to hand-pick only friendly outlets for the briefing as “appalling” in a tweet.
See more reactions below:
This is terrifying. Trump is lying. He cannot lead. https://t.co/KQH1rnMBEy
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) February 24, 2017
I think I read about this in school. It was called AUTOCRACY. https://t.co/ahnmZQnjRS
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 24, 2017
Trump is only allowing media that supports him. That is dictatorship, plain & simple. Who is going to stand up and challenge this maniac?
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) February 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/835209243309436928
Said it in 2009 & again today: Inappropriate for any White House to decide which news outlets are acceptable. https://t.co/uSq99T5XmG
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 24, 2017
Glad to hear there were protests and reporters who refused to attend. I hope the entire press corp unites in protest. https://t.co/AqYaWAMovK
— Anne Rice (@AnneRiceAuthor) February 24, 2017
Trump 2017: we're banning CNN NYT from press gaggle
reporters 2017: this is shocking!
is it?
Trump 2016: reporters belong in metal pens
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 24, 2017
CNN was blocked from WH @PressSec's media gaggle today. This is our response: pic.twitter.com/8SfY2uYKEI
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) February 24, 2017
Can’t remember any press secretary from Clinton, Bush or Obama canceling briefing and handpicking small group for gaggle. @PressSec
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) February 24, 2017
NYT Wash buro chief Elisabeth Bumiller to me on gaggle block: "Our most experienced WH reporters have never seen anything like this."
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) February 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/PostBaron/status/835218334396395520
White House crosses "dangerous line" by denying reporters access to briefing: https://t.co/bqIAyDEqhj pic.twitter.com/nuGMgyJQm7
— Mark Joyella (@standupkid) February 24, 2017