Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ordered the White House to restore press access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from enforcing its ban against the three news organisations.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order early Thursday, September 24, requiring officials to return and reinstate the journalists’ White House hard-pass credentials.
The ruling came after CNN, MS NOW and Politico challenged the administration’s decision to revoke their access to the White House.
Judge Orders Press Credentials Restored
The dispute began after President Donald Trump announced on September 18 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House.
The administration’s action resulted in journalists from the three organisations losing access to the White House complex and having their press credentials confiscated.
The news organisations subsequently filed a federal lawsuit seeking the restoration of their access, arguing that the ban violated constitutional protections for freedom of the press.
Judge Kelly’s temporary order requires government officials and their representatives to immediately return, reinstate and restore the affected journalists’ hard-pass credentials.
The order is scheduled to remain in effect for 14 days unless the court changes it or issues another order.
Court Raises Due-Process Concerns
A central issue in the ruling was whether the journalists had been given adequate notice and an opportunity to challenge the government’s decision before their credentials were revoked.
Judge Kelly found that the outlets had demonstrated a basis for arguing that the revocation was carried out without constitutionally adequate due process.
The ruling does not permanently resolve the wider dispute between the administration and the three media organisations. Instead, the temporary restraining order preserves their access while the court considers the case further.
The judge also rejected the government’s argument that national security concerns justified the restrictions, according to Reuters and other reports on the ruling.
White House Access Remained Disputed
The implementation of the order initially became another point of dispute.
Several reports said journalists from the affected organisations were still denied entry to the White House hours after the judge issued the order.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico subsequently sought an emergency hearing, saying their journalists had attempted to enter the White House but remained blocked.
Later reporting from NPR indicated that journalists from the three organisations had returned to the White House by midday Thursday following the judge’s order.
The conflicting developments underscore that implementation of the court’s order became an immediate issue following its issuance.
How the Dispute Started
Trump announced the ban against CNN, MS NOW and Politico on September 18. The affected organisations disputed the administration’s justification and challenged the decision in court.
The lawsuit followed a broader confrontation between the White House and news organisations over press coverage of the administration.
According to the Associated Press, Trump had accused the three outlets of publishing what he described as “fake news” and later argued that their reporting presented a national security concern. The outlets disputed the justification and argued that the ban was connected to their journalistic coverage.
Reuters reported that the outlets’ lawsuit challenged the ban and sought emergency relief from the federal court.
Why the Ruling Matters
The case places questions about press access, constitutional protections and government control of access to the White House at the centre of the legal dispute.
White House press credentials allow journalists to cover presidential activities from inside the complex and provide access that is important for reporting on the executive branch.
The court’s temporary order means the three organisations can continue seeking access while the legal arguments are examined.
The case also adds to a longer history of disputes between the Trump administration and news organisations over White House press access. Judge Kelly previously handled a case involving CNN’s White House access during Trump’s first administration.
What Happens Next
The temporary restraining order is in place for 14 days, giving the court additional time to consider arguments from both sides.
The litigation could continue beyond the temporary order, and an appeal or further court proceedings remain possible.
For now, the immediate legal position is that the White House is required to restore access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists covered by the court’s order.
The broader question of whether the administration’s original decision violated constitutional protections will continue to be addressed through the federal court proceedings.
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Sources
- Associated Press — Judge blocks Trump’s ban and orders access restored.
- Reuters — Report on the federal judge’s order restoring White House access.
- ABC News — Details of Judge Timothy Kelly’s 14-day temporary restraining order.
- NPR — Developments concerning the journalists’ return to the White House.
