A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ordering the White House to immediately restore press access for journalists from the three news organizations.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the ruling Thursday as part of a lawsuit brought by the media organizations challenging the Trump administration’s decision to revoke their White House credentials.
Press Passes Ordered Restored
The court ordered the administration to immediately return and restore the journalists’ White House press passes.
The temporary restraining order prevents officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days while the legal dispute continues.
Kelly said the media organizations were likely to succeed in their claims that the restrictions violated constitutional protections, including due process.
The judge also rejected the administration’s argument that allowing the journalists back into the White House would create a national security risk.
Why Were the Outlets Banned?
Trump announced on September 18 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would no longer be allowed access to the White House.
He strongly criticized their reporting and accused the outlets of publishing false information.
Journalists from the organizations were subsequently denied entry to the White House, and their press credentials were confiscated or deactivated.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico responded by filing a lawsuit, arguing that the administration had violated First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their due process rights.
The Justice Department defended the administration’s position, arguing that White House access is a privilege rather than a right and also raising national security concerns.
Legal Battle Is Not Over
Thursday’s ruling does not permanently resolve the dispute.
The order temporarily restores access for the three news organizations while their broader lawsuit against the administration continues.
The case is being closely watched because its eventual outcome could have broader implications for how presidential administrations regulate journalists’ access to the White House.