White House lifts media ban after court ruling, allows CNN, MSNBC and Politico back
Quick Look
- A federal judge ruled the White House ban on CNN, MSNBC and Politico likely unconstitutional, forcing the administration to readmit the outlets.
- Despite initial denials for a state dinner, journalists were allowed back on Friday, restoring regular TV coverage.
- The incident followed a pattern of access denials and legal challenges over the administration's characterization of the outlets as 'fake news'.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The White House had imposed a ban on CNN, MSNBC and Politico, which the administration labeled as 'fake news' outlets. This led to denied access for journalists and paused coverage by other networks in solidarity.
Regular US television coverage resumed on Friday after the White House was forced to lift its ban of news outlets and readmit journalists from CNN, MS NBC and Politico.
A federal judge had ruled on Thursday that the ban was likely unconstitutional and the administration had to let them back in, at least for now. Trump had barred them for what he called "fake news".
After the ruling on Thursday, the White House still denied entry to some CNN and MS NBC reporters assigned to cover arrivals for a state dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
But on Friday, White House officials allowed reporters entry and coverage went back to normal for the last day of Xi's visit with Trump in Washington.
Four television networks that have a daily rotation of White House coverage along with CNN - ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC - had paused their broadcasts of the president in solidarity with the banned outlets.
Despite the judge's ruling, CNN said that about an hour before Xi was scheduled to arrive for the dinner, the White House said it could cover the event only with a photojournalist and audio technician, but not a team that included a reporter and producer.
MS NBC White House reporter Laura Barron-Lopez said she was told by White House staff that she could not be let in, and to contact the White House communications director.
The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
A White House communications account posted on X that "contrary to what the Fake News wants you to believe, they don't just get to have free rein into every part of the White House, every event, and every press call".
The incident was the latest in a series of events on Thursday surrounding the ban on some media outlets at the White House.
Despite the overnight ruling, CNN, Politico and MS NBC all reported being denied entry to the White House on Thursday morning, prompting a request for an emergency court 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 local time (13:45 GMT).
Shortly afterwards, all three outlets said they were allowed back in.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The White House will face additional legal challenges regarding press access policies
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the White House continue to restrict access to certain outlets despite the court ruling?
- What long-term changes will occur in press access policies at the White House?
- Will other networks maintain their solidarity with the previously banned outlets?
