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The White House on Monday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, arguing that reporters have no constitutional guarantee of physical access to the presidential complex and pointing to past disputes between Democratic administrations and news organizations. The three outlets filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the ban on First Amendment and due-process grounds.

Trump announced the removal of the three organizations last week, accusing them of repeatedly publishing false information. The outlets’ reporters were subsequently denied entry to the White House grounds.

In its response Monday, the administration said CNN, MS NOW and Politico remain entitled to report on Trump and his administration, but argued that freedom of the press does not automatically include credentials or physical access to the White House.

“The First Amendment protects their right to publish; it does not entitle them to a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool,” the White House said in a statement.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the administration Monday, asking a federal court to restore their White House access. Their lawsuit argues that the government cannot revoke press credentials because officials object to the content of a news organization’s reporting. The outlets allege violations of both the First Amendment and the Fifth Amendment’s due-process protections.

The news organizations maintain that constitutional protections prevent government officials from selectively denying journalists access in retaliation for coverage they dislike. A federal court hearing on their request for emergency relief is scheduled for Wednesday.

In defending its action, the Trump administration argued that disputes over White House press access predate the current controversy and cited several examples involving the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Among the cases highlighted by the White House was the Obama administration’s highly publicized 2009 dispute with Fox News. Administration officials sharply criticized the network and sought to distinguish it from other news organizations, while Fox and other media groups objected to efforts to exclude it from certain interviews and pooled coverage.

Then-White House communications director Anita Dunn referred to Fox News as the “communications arm” of the GOP, while other Obama administration officials questioned whether the network should be treated in the same manner as traditional news organizations.

The White House also cited the Obama-era Justice Department investigation involving Fox News correspondent James Rosen. During an investigation into the disclosure of classified information, federal investigators obtained records connected to Rosen’s communications and described him in court documents as a possible “co-conspirator” as they sought to identify his source.

Another example cited by the administration involved the Justice Department’s seizure of telephone records associated with more than 20 Associated Press lines used by reporters and editors. The action, which covered a two-month period, prompted objections from the AP and press-freedom organizations.

The White House statement also pointed to earlier Obama-era conflicts involving the Boston Herald and San Francisco Chronicle as additional examples of tensions between an administration and individual news organizations.

It further noted that during the final stretch of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, journalists representing three newspapers were removed from the campaign plane after their editorial pages endorsed Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The newspapers disputed the suggestion at the time that the decisions were retaliation for those endorsements.

The administration also cited press-access controversies during the Biden presidency.

In 2023, New York Post reporter Steven Nelson was denied access to an event involving Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nelson had repeatedly questioned Biden about foreign business dealings involving members of his family, and the Post objected publicly to his exclusion.

That same year, the Biden White House introduced revised requirements governing permanent White House press credentials. The changes resulted in hundreds of journalists losing their existing hard passes unless they met the new criteria.

The Trump administration cited those previous disputes to argue that presidential administrations have long exercised discretion over who receives physical access to the White House, rejecting assertions that restrictions on press access originated with Trump. The legality of the current ban, however, is now before a federal court, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico arguing that the administration singled them out because of their reporting.

“No President is required to host a hostile operation on the grounds,” the White House statement read. “Access has always been a privilege — and President Trump is applying that rule.”

A police officer assigned to protect a shul in Belleville, Ontario, was seriously wounded Sunday night when a shotgun-wielding gunman opened fire outside the building as approximately two dozen Jews were inside for Yom Kippur davening, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire that sent congregants scrambling for cover.

The shooting erupted at approximately 7 p.m. outside Sons of Jacob Synagogue, located near Victoria and Bleecker avenues in Belleville, about 110 miles east of Toronto. Authorities said as many as 20 to 30 shots were fired during the confrontation, with bullets striking the shul, nearby homes and vehicles. No congregants inside the building were injured.

Authorities on Monday identified the wounded officer as Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service. The suspected gunman was identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward of Quinte West. Smith remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition, while Ward was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

According to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which is investigating the police shooting, Smith was stationed near the shul when Ward allegedly approached armed with a shotgun and opened fire. Smith returned fire, and a second officer who arrived during the confrontation also discharged his weapon. Both Smith and Ward were struck.

The gunfire broke out as members of the small Jewish community were gathered inside the shul on the opening night of Yom Kippur.

Norman Weddum, president of Sons of Jacob Synagogue, said Smith had been positioned outside the shul in an unmarked police vehicle as a security measure. Weddum recalled suddenly hearing the barrage of gunfire while the congregation was inside.

“It was boom, boom, boom,” Weddum said. “So that’s when we ran back into the auditorium of the synagogue, closed the doors behind us so as to not leave a visible target and we hit the floor.”

Approximately 25 people were reportedly inside at the time. The congregation subsequently canceled its remaining Yom Kippur services following the shooting.

Weddum said he believes the location and circumstances of the attack point to an antisemitic motive.

“When an individual with a firearm approaches a synagogue where Jews are praying, I would call that a hate crime,” he said.

Authorities, however, have not yet established a motive or officially determined that the shul or Jewish community was deliberately targeted. Investigators are examining the possibility of a hate-related motive, but the investigation remained ongoing Monday.

Belleville Police Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks sought to reassure the community that there was no continuing threat while strongly condemning antisemitism and violence.

“We recognize the concern and uncertainty many may be feeling, particularly given that this occurred near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue during one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith,” Meeks said. “Let me be very clear: antisemitism, hate, and violence have no place in our community. Every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship, gathering with loved ones, or participating in community life.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the shooting and emphasized the right of Canadian Jews to practice their religion without fear.

“Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives. Canada’s government will do everything in our power to support law enforcement in ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Carney said.

Carney’s comments came amid heightened concern over antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish institutions in Canada. Police departments in other communities increased their presence around shuls and other houses of worship following the Belleville shooting.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre also condemned the attack.

“This vile antisemitic violence in Canada must end, and this Liberal government must act now to protect our people,” Poilievre said.

“Jewish Canadians must once again be able to live in their communities and pray in their places of worship without fear of being shot at or attacked,” he added.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “disgusted” by the violence and expressed solidarity with Jews in Belleville and across the province.

“My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario, who have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear,” Ford said.

“We owe an immense debt of gratitude to this brave officer and to all the first responders who acted so quickly to keep the community safe,” he added.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case. The SIU automatically investigates incidents involving police in Ontario that result in serious injury or death. Investigators have appealed to anyone who witnessed the shooting or possesses video or photographs of the incident to come forward.

Police maintained an increased presence around houses of worship in Belleville on Monday as investigators continued processing the scene around Sons of Jacob Synagogue. Authorities said there was no known ongoing danger to the public.