Journalists Blast JD Vance Claiming Trump’s ‘Not Banning Media Outlets’: ‘Definition of Gaslighting!’

(Kent Nishimura/Pool Photo via AP)

Vice President JD Vance is facing the wrath of journalists calling him out for claiming President Donald Trump was “not banning media outlets” from the White House — after Trump specifically said he was “banning” CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the grounds.

During a Monday tarmac gaggle, Vance claimed, “So, he’s not banning media outlets. What he’s doing is saying, ‘We’re not gonna give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda.’”

“They can still report, they still have the access to free speech,” Vance continued. “They’re just not going to get an office in the White House anymore, and I think it’s totally appropriate, unless, of course, they start to behave like real news organizations.”

Journalist Ed Krassenstein called Vance’s comments, “the definition of GASLIGHTING.”

“So, in other words, HE IS BANNING MEDIA OUTLETS,” Krassenstein posted to X.

Progressive commentator Marlene Robertson pointed out the Trump administration’s word choice to push their agenda.

“It’s not a war it’s a special military operation,” Robertson posted. “It’s not suppressing the free press, it’s denying you special access.”

Tom Haudricourt, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote, “In other words, ‘We want them to behave (lie) like FOX.'”

The account of social media political commentator @cmadsq wrote, “Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, calling their work fake news. A free press is not supposed to be punished for the story. The First Amendment was written to stop the government from punishing the press it dislikes. The White House is a secure site, not a public park. Security rules are allowed. Using credentials as a viewpoint penalty is the legal fight now in court. Courts decide whether speech is unprotected. The public still needs more than one version of events.”

Other notable posts are below:

Earlier Monday, media outlets banned together to deny the president a White House press pool altogether.

White House TV pool rotational chair and Fox News Washington Bureau Chief Bryan Boughton wrote, “Effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President. This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.”

Thus, there was no one to cover Trump’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new helipad, which was live-streamed by the White House and drowned out by the din of Marine One.

Former Biden White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates rebutted several of Vance’s claims in a statement to Mediaite:

Access to the White House Press Briefing Room is basic, not ‘special.’ Just like any time the Trump Administration brings up the situation they inherited from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – when costs were lower and we weren’t at war with Iran – they’re debunking their own case.

Most of the reporters Trump’s aides are trying to exploit by citing that number had stopped covering the White House and didn’t even apply for a new hard pass that grants daily, at-will access. And all of those reporters were eligible to apply for day passes whenever they wanted. No one was “banned,” regardless of how negative or friendly their coverage was. If you ask any of these reporters which set of rules they’d prefer, I’d bet you real money – not my tariff refund or Trump check – that they’d choose our system in a heartbeat. This is nothing more than Trump being a crybaby about reporting on his failed record of breaking the promises he ran on.

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