WASHINGTON, D.C.: Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House on September 19 as the Trump administration carried out President Donald Trump's decision to ban the three news organizations from the White House grounds.

All three outlets said their teams' press passes were confiscated on the morning of September 19 when their journalists arrived at the White House. They have indicated they may challenge the ban on the grounds that it conflicts with the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press.

CNN called the ban "an illegal assault" on its constitutional right to conduct journalism without government interference. MS NOW and Politico separately said they would "defend our First Amendment rights".

MS NOW said it intends to "take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy."

CNN and MS NOW said they would continue covering the Trump administration, while Politico said it stood by its White House reporters.

Trump announced the ban on Friday in a social media post accusing the three organizations of "reporting FAKE NEWS" and saying they "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States."

He added, "Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."

Asked on September 18 what he meant by other outlets, Trump described the New York Times and the Washington Post as examples of "fake news," but did not specifically say they would also be barred from the White House.

The New York Times called the ban "yet another retaliatory and unconstitutional threat" and said it "stands in support of the news organizations being unfairly targeted by the president."

Trump has previously sought to restrict access for certain news organizations and journalists. Last year, he barred the Associated Press from the press pool covering his movements after the news agency declined to use his preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico following his order that the executive branch call it the Gulf of America. The AP challenged the restriction.

During Trump's first term, his White House also sought to revoke or suspend the credentials of CNN's Jim Acosta and Playboy correspondent Brian Karem. Federal judges ordered their White House press passes restored.