The “battle royale” between the Trump administration and the mainstream media went into to warp drive on Friday when a number of news outlets were excluded from attending an off-camera press briefing with White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

The outlets left on the outside looking in were CNN, Politico, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and the action has liberals in a complete meltdown.

CNN’s Jake Tapper excoriated the administration, saying “they are taking the next step in attempting to avoid checks and balances and accountability.”

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“It’s not acceptable,” he said. “In fact, it’s petulant and indicative of a lack of basic understanding of how an adult White House functions.”

.@jaketapper: This White House does not value an independent press. There is a word for that: Un-American. https://t.co/Ks7fCmAwl0 pic.twitter.com/Az3TcXomkg — CNN (@CNN) February 25, 2017

Tapper went on to charge that the Trump White House “does not seem to value an independent press.”

“There is a word for that line of thinking. The word is un-American.”

CNN’s Brooke Baldwin was just as clear in her disgust of the reporters being excluded from Friday’s media gaggle.

This is not OK,” she insisted during a segment with CNN White House correspondent Sara Murray.

The administration was accused of trying to avoid questions about the White House reportedly asking the FBI to knock down reports on the ties between the president and Russia by hand selecting more favorable news outlets.

A number of on-air personalities at Fox News stuck up for the excluded outlets, chief among them noted Trump supporter Eric Bolling.

Bolling said Friday on “The Five” he has to “side with the media,” but did run interference for the president by saying he believes this was a decision by the White House press office.

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Co-host Dana Perino, the former press secretary for George W. Bush, characterized the move as a serious “stumble,” saying it detracts from their message.

Brett Baier. host of Fox News’ “Special Report,” took to social media to also say the gaggle “should be open to all.”