A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after the three media organisations were barred from the premises.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order on Thursday, directing the administration to return and reinstate the reporters’ White House press credentials while the legal dispute continues. The order is set to remain in force for 14 days.
The three outlets had filed a joint lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to revoke their access, arguing that the ban violated their constitutional rights, including protections under the First Amendment and the right to due process.
Kelly ruled that the journalists were likely deprived of their constitutional due process rights because their credentials were revoked without adequate notice and an opportunity to respond.
The dispute began after President Donald Trump announced the ban, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of publishing what he described as “fake news” and false reports.
The administration later defended the restrictions by citing national security concerns and allegations that the outlets had published sensitive or classified information.
However, Kelly expressed doubt over that justification, saying the evidence before the court did not establish that national security concerns were the actual reason for revoking the outlets’ press passes.
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The Justice Department had argued that access to the White House was a privilege rather than a right and that the president had authority to determine which reporters could enter restricted areas of the presidential complex.
Lawyers representing the three media organisations countered that the ban amounted to retaliation over their reporting and violated constitutional protections for the press.
The case also has a precedent from Trump’s first term. Judge Kelly previously ordered the restoration of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s White House press credentials after the administration revoked his access in 2018.
The latest ruling came after other major US broadcasters temporarily suspended White House pool coverage in solidarity with the three banned outlets.
With Thursday’s order, journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico are to regain access while the court considers the broader legal challenge to the administration’s decision.