Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, saying in an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” that President Donald Trump was not closing outlets or arresting reporters.
\n\n“We’re not closing CNN,” Rubio said. “There aren’t a bunch of police officers or soldiers kicking down the doors of MSNBC or MS NOW, whatever it’s called, and arresting people and unplugging it from the grid. They’re just not allowed to work from the workspace at the White House.”
\n\nTrump’s ban on the media outlets marked the president’s most extreme instance so far of blocking access for news organizations whose coverage he dislikes.
\n\nThe three banned outlets sued the Trump administration on Monday over the ban, and major television networks, including NBC News, have refused to provide TV pool coverage of the president at least through Monday. That coverage allows media members and subscribers to share video, editorial information and costs for newsworthy events where space is limited.
\n\nTelevision pool coverage of other administration officials, including Rubio, has continued. On Monday, CNN provided TV pool coverage of the secretary.
\n\nWhen asked by host Craig Melvin whether Rubio planned to make changes…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business