A US federal judge has issued an order directing the Trump administration to immediately restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The order was issued on Thursday, 24 September 2026, by US District Judge Timothy Kelly. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days unless the court extends or changes it. This decision comes after the three media organisations were barred from the White House premises.
The revocation of the journalists' press passes was likely unconstitutional, Kelly ruled, as the administration did not provide adequate due process before withdrawing their access. The judge stated that journalists were entitled to receive notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision before the government could revoke their White House credentials. This ruling is a significant development in the dispute between the Trump administration and the three media organisations.
President Donald Trump announced the ban on September 18, accusing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of publishing what he described as "fake news". The ban was met with a lawsuit from the three organisations, which argued that the restrictions violated their constitutional rights. The Trump administration defended the decision in court, arguing that the President has broad authority over access to the White House and raising national security concerns.
The media organisations challenged the ban on First Amendment and due process grounds. They argued that the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on their freedom of the press. The Trump administration's defence of the ban was rejected by Kelly, who ruled that the journalists' press passes could not be revoked without due process.
Kelly's ruling temporarily prevents the administration from enforcing the ban while the legal challenge proceeds. As a result, the affected journalists' White House access must be restored immediately. This decision is a significant victory for the three media organisations, which had been barred from the White House premises.
The dispute between the Trump administration and the media organisations highlights the tension between the government and the press. The Trump administration has been critical of the media, often accusing them of publishing "fake news". The media organisations, on the other hand, argue that they have a constitutional right to report on the government and its activities.
The case will likely continue to be litigated in the coming weeks. The Trump administration may appeal Kelly's ruling or seek to extend the ban. The media organisations, however, are likely to continue to challenge the ban on First Amendment and due process grounds. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the relationship between the government and the press.
Key points
- A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- The judge ruled that the revocation of the journalists' press passes was likely unconstitutional.
- The case highlights the tension between the government and the press.
