CNN and MSNBC Reporters Regain White House Access After Court Order
Quick Look
- CNN and MSNBC reporters were allowed back into the White House after securing an emergency court order that temporarily lifted the Trump administration's ban on three media outlets.
- Judge Timothy Kelly ruled the ban likely violated constitutional due process rights.
- The ban, initially justified by claims of 'fake news' and later national security, had led to denied entries and confiscated press credentials.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Trump administration initially banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, citing 'fake news' and later national security concerns. The outlets challenged the ban in court, arguing it violated their constitutional due process rights. Judge Timothy Kelly ruled the ban should be temporarily lifted, citing likely constitutional violations. The incident occurred during a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, limiting TV coverage of the event.
CNN and MSNBC reporters have been allowed back into the White House after they sought an emergency court order to restore their revoked press access.
They accused the White House in a court filing of having "repeatedly violated" a judge's ruling overturning President Donald Trump's ban on three media outlets.
CNN and MSNBC were granted access back into the White House after some of their staff were turned away on Thursday morning. The third outlet in the ban, Politico, has yet to say if its entry was restored.
In the early hours, Judge Timothy Kelly ruled the ban on the outlets should be temporarily lifted because it "likely violated their constitutional due process rights".
Trump initially said he barred the outlets because of "fake news". The White House later cited national security.
It was unclear whether the refusal to admit some reporters on Thursday morning was because of an administrative lag as the White House potentially worked to comply with the judge's order.
The standoff limited some TV coverage as Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday morning ahead of a state dinner.
CNN said some of their journalists were denied entry, including senior White House reporter Betsy Klein. But a producer was allowed to enter, the outlet reported.
Politico said one of its reporters was denied access to the White House and had his press credentials confiscated.
MSNBC reported that its White House reporter Laura Barrón-López and a producer were barred and had their passes taken, but another MSNBC producer was allowed in.
The White House is yet to comment on the ruling, and lawyers acting for the president may take further legal action.
Trump first announced last Friday he was barring CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House, accusing them of writing "fiction or lies" about his administration.
By Saturday morning, each outlet reported that they were denied entry to the White House grounds and that their press badges were confiscated.
All three outlets spoke out against the ban, accusing the Trump administration of violating their constitutional rights.
In a joint statement on Monday, they said they were pursuing legal action to "defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports".
TV networks including Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC had suspended their televised coverage of the White House in solidarity.
And more than 50 media organisations across the ideological spectrum filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit, including Fox News, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
There have been previous instances of administrations attempting to limit certain outlets' access.
The Obama administration tried to exclude Fox News from participating in a specific press pool interview with an administration official in 2009.
But after objections from the other four networks in the pool, Fox News was allowed in.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Trump administration will appeal the court's decision to restore press access for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico.
Likely · Within weeks
Politico will confirm whether its press access has been restored and may join the legal action if access remains denied.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- Will the Trump administration appeal the court's decision?
- Has Politico's press access been restored?
- What specific legal arguments will be made in any further court proceedings?
- Will other media outlets face similar restrictions?
