US Judge Blocks Trump’s Media Ban, Orders White House to Restore Access
A US 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 immediately restore the journalists’ access.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order early Thursday, allowing reporters from the three outlets to return to the White House while their legal challenge continues. The order will remain in place for 14 days as the judge considers whether to grant longer-term relief.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico had sued the administration, arguing that their exclusion violated First Amendment protections for the press and denied them due process. The outlets said their credentials were revoked without prior notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision.
Kelly said the news organisations appeared likely to succeed in arguing that the administration had failed to follow legal precedents requiring journalists to be given notice and an opportunity to respond before their access is withdrawn. He also expressed skepticism about the administration’s claim that national security concerns motivated the ban.
Trump announced the ban last Friday, accusing the three outlets of publishing what he described as false reporting. The Justice Department defended the decision, arguing that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a right and citing national security and professional-conduct concerns.
The dispute had also disrupted the White House television press pool. CNN had been scheduled to accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, but its exclusion led ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News to suspend the shared television coverage system.
The Justice Department is expected to appeal the judge’s ruling, leaving the broader dispute over White House press access unresolved.
