A close aide to President Trump reportedly played a decisive role in the White House decision to bar three major news organizations from covering the administration, according to TMZ.com.
Natalie Harp, one of the president's closest aides, showed Trump negative coverage published by CNN, MS NOW and Politico, TMZ.com reported. She focused particularly on television anchors criticizing the administration during their broadcasts, according to the report, which cited the Wall Street Journal.
After watching an unfavorable MS NOW report on Friday, Trump announced on Truth Social that the three outlets were banned from the White House, labeling them "FAKE NEWS," TMZ.com reported.
The situation intensified on Saturday when journalists from the news organizations arrived at the White House to work but were halted at the gate and had their press credentials taken away, according to TMZ.com. Correspondents from MS NOW and CNN were forced to broadcast from the street outside the White House.
The three outlets issued statements expressing support for their reporters and vowing to defend their First Amendment right to cover the Trump administration, TMZ.com reported. Other media organizations also released statements in solidarity. CNN, MS NOW and Politico have since filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the ban.
Following the ban, Trump met with journalists in the Oval Office and told them the decision stemmed from "cumulative stories over the last few years," according to TMZ.com.
Harp has been described as one of Trump's closest aides, having expressed her loyalty in personal letters to the president. In one letter, she wrote, "You are all that matters to me" and "I don't ever want to let you down," as reported by TMZ.com.