Federal judge orders restoration of CNN, Politico and MS Now White House access after Trump ban
Quick Look
A federal judge ruled President Trump's ban on CNN, Politico and MS Now likely violated constitutional due process rights and ordered their White House access restored immediately, rejecting national security justifications and directing the return of press passes for 14 days.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
President Trump initially banned CNN, Politico and MS Now from the White House, citing 'fake news' and later national security concerns, prompting the outlets to seek emergency court intervention.
CNN, Politico and MS NOW are back in the White House, hours after a federal judge ruled President Donald Trump's ban on the three news outlets was probably unconstitutional and ordered their access immediately restored.
The outlets sought an emergency court hearing to regain entry accusing the White House in a court filing of having "repeatedly violated" the judge's ruling by turning away their journalists. The hearing was called off after access was restored.
Trump initially said he barred the outlets because of "fake news". The White House later cited national security.
But in his overnight ruling, Judge Timothy Kelly cast doubt on the claim about national security concerns.
The chaotic standoff limited some TV coverage as Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House ahead of a state dinner later.
Judge Kelly ruled the ban on the outlets should be temporarily lifted because it "likely violated their constitutional due process rights".
CNN, Politico and MS Now all reported being denied entry to the White House on Thursday morning, prompting their request for an emergency hearing.
In response, the director of White House Operations said in a court filing that the press passes and confiscated badges had been restored by 09:45.
Shortly afterwards, all three outlets said they were allowed back in.
However, networks including Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC, which pulled out in solidarity, have yet to confirm they will resume broadcast coverage from the White House.
Judge Kelly ruled CNN, Politico and MS NOW were "likely to succeed" in showing the White House had not exercised "adequate due process" in the ban.
The judge also rejected the argument that national security concerns underpinned the exclusion, pointing out the president made no mention of this in his initial announcement.
"The record lacks factual support for defendants' contention that the revocation of plaintiffs' hard passes will in fact protect national security," Kelly wrote.
He ordered the immediate return of the outlets' press passes and a halt to enforcement of the ban for 14 days.
In a court filing on Tuesday, the US Department of Justice had accused the news outlets of threatening national security with their coverage.
Government lawyers cited stories about missile stockpiles, the construction of the White House ballroom and the recent Republican midterm convention.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The White House will comply with the court order and maintain restored access for CNN, Politico and MS Now for the 14-day period.
Likely · Within days
Other news outlets that pulled out in solidarity will reassess their White House coverage decisions.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- Will Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC resume White House broadcast coverage?
- Will the White House appeal the court ruling?
- What specific stories did the DOJ cite as threatening national security?
