[chrismcb]

Not exactly. Technically the first amendment says "Congress shall not.." and of course over the years this has come to mean government.

But I think it is wrong for the white house to do anything that gifts the impropriety of restricting speech.

[ethanbond]

This is not the detail that matters. Anyone in government, including Congress, can ask someone to do anything. They cannot coerce or appear to coerce regulation of speech. This is extremely well established.