Leading news organisations including the BBC and New York Times led backlash against the White House for banning media outlets from a recent press briefing.

The BBC, which Mr Trump derisively labelled "a real beauty" during a recent press conference, was among the organisations barred from Friday's daily press briefing.

Paul Danahar, BBC Americas Editor, released a statement saying it was "not clear" what led to the ban.

"The BBC's reporting of the White House will continued to be fair and impartial regardless," Mr Danahar wrote.