White House Ban Blocked by Federal Judge
The White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge, who ordered the Trump administration to restore the news organisations’ access to the White House. The temporary restraining order will remain in place for 14 days unless the court orders otherwise.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the three outlets were likely to succeed in showing that the administration had failed to provide adequate due process when their White House hard passes were revoked. The decision came after CNN, MS NOW and Politico challenged the ban in federal court.
The reporters’ passes were confiscated after President Donald Trump announced that the three organisations would be barred from the White House. The administration defended the decision by accusing the outlets of publishing false information and arguing that their reporting raised national security concerns.
Trump White House Ban Faces Court Challenge
Judge Kelly questioned the administration’s national security justification, noting that Trump did not cite national security when he initially announced the restrictions. The judge also said the government’s court record lacked factual support for the argument that revoking the journalists’ passes would protect national security.
The administration had pointed to several reports published by the affected organisations, including stories concerning construction at the White House and plans for a new ballroom. However, Kelly found that many of the journalists responsible for those reports did not hold White House hard passes.
For the remaining stories, the judge said the administration had not shown that the reporters’ possession of hard passes was essential to producing the articles cited in its defence of the ban.
CNN White House Access Restored
The court’s order requires the administration and its representatives to immediately return, reinstate and restore the White House hard-pass credentials held by employees of CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The order does not include President Trump himself as a defendant subject to that specific requirement.
The three organisations filed their lawsuit after their journalists were denied entry to the White House. They argued that the ban violated constitutional protections, including due process and protections for freedom of the press. Reuters reported that the outlets sought a temporary restraining order while their broader legal challenge continues.
The administration had argued in court that access to the White House is a privilege rather than an entitlement and that the president has authority to control access to the building. Its lawyers also maintained that national security concerns supported the restrictions.
Press Freedom Dispute Widens
The White House ban has already affected how television networks cover the president. Major US television networks suspended their pooled coverage of Trump’s activities on Monday after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled pool duties.
The White House press pool allows news organisations to share coverage of presidential events when space or access is limited. The system is particularly important for providing television coverage of presidential movements and public appearances.
Forty-nine media organisations, including CBS News, The New York Times and Fox News, also filed a legal brief supporting the lawsuit brought by CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
The dispute comes amid a broader series of clashes between the Trump administration and news organisations. Trump has repeatedly criticised media outlets, while his administration has pursued legal action involving organisations including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC.
The latest court ruling does not resolve the underlying lawsuit. Instead, the 14-day order restores access while the legal proceedings continue, leaving the broader dispute over White House press credentials and the administration’s reasons for restricting the three outlets to be decided in further proceedings.