Clinton criticizes attempt to restrict media access to the White House — The Hill

In the United States, former President Bill Clinton criticized President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar three media outlets from access to the White House. At the Clinton Global Initiative 2026 summit, he said that during his presidency he had repeatedly wanted to ban the White House press corps from working, but was glad that he did not do so and could not do so.

Bill Clinton’s statement

Clinton stated that the Constitution exists because no one is immune to irritation. In his view, staff at the current White House should not impose such restrictions either, and the law should remain as it is.

As The Hill reports, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the restrictions on the three media outlets “deeply troubling.” In an interview with The Washington Post, she said that interaction between politicians and the press is part not only of politics but also of democracy, adding that authoritarian leaders take such actions.

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Court ruling and Obama’s reaction

On Thursday, a judge ruled in favor of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico and ordered the White House to lift the restrictions. After that, journalists from these outlets were initially denied entry to the White House, but were granted access later the same day.

MS NOW and CNN journalists also said they were not allowed to attend the arrival of guests for a state dinner at the White House during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, although the event required prior accreditation. Former President Barack Obama said at an event on Monday evening that the issue should not be partisan. According to CNN, he also criticized what he said was the lack of a noticeable response from Republicans to the restrictions on media access.