A federal judge in the United States has ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The temporary ruling was issued by US District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday, directing the administration to immediately return the outlets' White House press passes. This move prevents officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days while the legal battle continues.
The case followed Trump's decision on September 18 to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, amid his criticism of their coverage of his administration. The three organisations subsequently went to court, arguing that the ban violated constitutional protections for freedom of the press and due process. The Trump administration defended the restrictions, arguing that access to the White House was a privilege rather than a right.
The Trump administration maintained that the decision was based on concerns including alleged professionalism and national security issues, rather than retaliation for critical coverage. However, Kelly rejected the government's national security argument in granting the temporary relief sought by the media organisations. According to the judge, the record did not provide factual support for the administration's contention that restoring the outlets' press passes would endanger national security.
Kelly also noted that Trump's own statements had linked the ban to what he regarded as negative and untruthful reporting by the organisations. The ruling represents a temporary victory for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico as their broader lawsuit proceeds. The dispute has also triggered an unusual response from other major US television networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, which suspended their participation in the television press pool.
The television pool normally rotates responsibility for covering presidential events and distributes footage to broadcasters and other news organisations. The suspension meant that there was no replacement pool when CNN was excluded. The latest ruling is not a final decision on the underlying lawsuit, but rather restores the three organisations' access while the constitutional challenge to Trump's ban is litigated.
The case has attracted wider attention because of the longstanding legal dispute over the extent to which a US president can control journalists' access to the White House. Kelly himself previously ordered the restoration of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's White House press pass in 2018, in a case involving the Trump administration's treatment of the journalist.
The White House has yet to prevail in its attempt to keep the three organisations excluded while the case continues. The temporary ruling is a setback for the Trump administration, which had argued that access to the White House was a privilege rather than a right. The case will likely continue to be closely watched as it raises important questions about the relationship between the White House and the press.
Key points
- US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary ruling restoring White House access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- The Trump administration had argued that access to the White House was a privilege rather than a right.
- The case raises important questions about the relationship between the White House and the press.
