A US federal judge has ordered the White House to immediately lift a ban on three major media outlets, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, from accessing the White House press corps. The ban was imposed by President Donald Trump last week, citing the outlets' coverage of him as "fake news". The judge, Timothy Kelly, ruled that the ban likely violated the outlets' constitutional rights to freedom of the press.
The ban was imposed on September 20, 2026, when Trump's administration revoked the press credentials of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, effectively barring them from covering White House events. The move was seen as a retaliatory measure against the outlets' coverage of the President. In response, the other major US networks, including CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox, temporarily suspended their coverage of White House events in solidarity with the banned outlets.
The three outlets took the White House to court, arguing that the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on their First Amendment rights. They sought a temporary restraining order to restore their access to the White House press corps. The judge's ruling on September 23, 2026, granted their request, allowing the outlets to once again cover White House events.
President Trump had defended his decision to ban the outlets, claiming that they were spreading "fake news" about him. However, the judge's ruling suggested that the ban was not justified and that the outlets' rights had been violated. The White House had argued that the ban was necessary to protect the President's interests, but the judge was unconvinced.
The ruling was welcomed by the affected outlets and free speech advocates, who saw it as a victory for press freedom. The outlets have long been critical of Trump's policies and have reported extensively on his administration. The ban had been seen as an attempt to silence critical voices and limit access to information.
The incident highlights the tense relationship between the Trump administration and the media, which has been a hallmark of his presidency. Trump's frequent attacks on the media have raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom and the ability of journalists to hold those in power accountable.
The judge's ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration, which had argued that it had the right to choose which media outlets could cover White House events. The ruling reaffirms the importance of a free press in a democratic society and the need for those in power to be held accountable.
Key points
- A US federal judge has ordered the White House to lift a ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from accessing the White House press corps.
- The ban was imposed by President Donald Trump last week, citing the outlets' coverage of him as "fake news".
- The judge's ruling suggests that the ban likely violated the outlets' constitutional rights to freedom of the press.
