A lawyer for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico urged a US federal judge to immediately restore White House access for the news organizations. The media outlets went to court after Trump ordered that they be barred from the White House as punishment for distributing what he called "fake news" and "fiction and lies." The news organizations filed a lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order against the ban.
District Judge Timothy Kelly declined to issue an immediate decision after a nearly one-hour court hearing. He told lawyers for the media outlets and the government that he would rule "as soon as I can." The Department of Justice responded with a court filing that said Trump can "control reporters' access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office."
The Department of Justice argued that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right. In an accompanying letter to CNN, the White House Press Office accused the cable news network of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about national security and other issues, and publishing sensitive or classified information." Similar accusations were leveled against MS NOW and Politico.
The White House Press Office cited several stories about the Iran war and a story on Trump's plans to build a military bunker below the planned East Wing ballroom. The letter allegedly disclosed "top-secret" construction details. Theodore Boutrous, representing the media outlets in court, told the judge that Trump didn't mention national security in his announcement of the bans.
Boutrous argued that the idea of reporters being punished by the government for reporting on national security issues is contrary to First Amendment principles. Journalists for the three news organizations were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their passes confiscated. The top five US broadcasters halted pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN.
The ban comes at a time when Trump's approval ratings are at record lows, his Republican Party risks losing control of Congress in November's midterm elections, and the Iran war drags on with no end in sight. Trump has long attacked media outlets that have aired critical coverage of his campaigns and administrations, repeatedly blasting the press as the "enemy of the people."
On Tuesday, Trump appeared to suggest that CNN should not be covering him outside of the White House too. The White House launched a streaming channel, "Trump TV," which it said would show "top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time."
Key points
- A US federal judge is being urged to immediately restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- The media outlets argue that the ban violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
- The ban comes at a time when Trump's approval ratings are at record lows and his Republican Party risks losing control of Congress.
