Trump: Fake News Spreads in America Like Cancer

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U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the White House does not target press freedom, but is confronting what he described as "fake news" that he believes poses a danger to the United States.

Trump stated in a post on the "Truth Social" platform that press freedom is "a value I cherish and uphold," but emphasized that his administration is engaged in a battle against "fake news" that has "spread across the country like cancer."

He also added that this phenomenon is "corrupt, deliberate, and pervasive everywhere," accusing media outlets of operating "in complete coordination" and out of control, considering them a threat to U.S. national security that must be stopped immediately.

This came after CNN, MS NOW, and Politico announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the U.S. administration in response to the White House's decision to bar their journalists from entering its premises.

The three media outlets stated in a joint statement today that they have informed the government of their intention to resort to the judiciary "to protect the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution" and to defend the principle of media independence from government interference in determining what they can publish or cover.

They also added that the White House revoked the press credentials of their journalists "without prior notice or legal procedures" due to its objections to their news coverage, warning that failing to address this action could pose a threat to press freedom and the public's right to access independent information.

Trump announced last Friday a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from entering the White House "effective immediately," justifying the decision by what he considered the continued publication of "fake news" by these outlets.

He also added that the media should not be allowed to publish what he described as "fantasy and lies" when covering news about the president, his administration, or the United States.

This came after months of a decision made last year to prevent the Associated Press from attending certain events due to its continued use of the term "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America," which is the term he adopted.