Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, ordering the administration to restore the outlets’ press credentials. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Thursday as the three news organizations pursue their legal challenge against the administration. Kelly said the outlets were likely to succeed on at least part of their constitutional claims.

Trump announced the restrictions on September 18 after repeatedly criticizing the three organizations and their coverage of his administration. The president argued on social media that the outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.”

CNN, MS NOW and Politico subsequently sued Trump and other administration officials in federal court in Washington, seeking the immediate restoration of their White House access. The organizations argued that the ban violated protections for freedom of speech and the press, while also denying them appropriate due process before their credentials were revoked.

The Trump administration defended its authority to control access to restricted areas of the White House.

Justice Department attorneys also cited national security concerns in defending the restrictions. “Access to the White House is a privilege — not a right,” the Justice Department argued. Kelly, however, found the government’s national security justification insufficient at this stage of the case.

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The judge said the record did not adequately demonstrate that restoring the outlets’ credentials would endanger national security. He also pointed to Trump’s own public comments criticizing what he viewed as inaccurate and negative reporting by the organizations. The dispute also focused heavily on how the White House revoked the credentials. During a Wednesday hearing, Kelly cited previous federal appeals court decisions addressing the procedural protections afforded to journalists whose White House credentials are threatened.

Attorneys representing the media organizations said their clients received no meaningful advance notice or opportunity to contest the decision before losing access.

The Justice Department countered that the administration provided an explanation in letters sent to the news organizations.

Kelly questioned that argument because those letters were issued only after the credentials had already been revoked and the lawsuit had been filed.

Several media and press-freedom organizations also filed a brief supporting CNN, MS NOW and Politico, arguing that the government cannot punish journalists simply because officials object to an outlet’s editorial viewpoint.

The filing was supported by organizations including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and several major news companies.

The court’s order does not permanently settle the dispute.

Instead, it restores the credentials temporarily while the broader lawsuit proceeds and the court considers the constitutional questions raised by the case.

Despite Kelly’s order directing that access be restored immediately, reporters for CNN, MS NOW and Politico said they were still prevented from entering the White House complex Thursday morning.

The development could create an additional dispute over implementation of the judge’s ruling.