CNN, MS NOW and Politico return to the White House after judge blocks Trump's media ban

The White House reinstated journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Thursday after a federal judge deemed Donald Trump’s ban on the three news outlets likely unconstitutional and ordered their access immediately restored, Reuters reported.

US District Judge Tim Kelly, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, issued his order overnight, halting the ban for 14 days and finding that the revocation of the journalists’ credentials “likely violated their constitutional due process rights”.

The judge rejected the administration’s national security justification for the ban, writing that the record “lacks factual support” for the claim that revoking the press passes would protect national security. He noted that Trump himself had said the ban was due to what the president alleged was the outlets’ false or negative coverage.

The midday reinstatement followed a chaotic few hours: all three outlets told the judge they remained barred even after the order, prompting an emergency hearing request. In a court filing, White House press operations director Micah Stopperich said the badge reinstatement process began at 7:25 a.m. and badges were dropped at the entry gate around 9:55 a.m. The judge denied the emergency hearing but gave the outlets the chance to report any factual developments later in the day.

Trump had announced the ban on September 18, saying the outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES”. He has said his administration will appeal the ruling.

Sources

• White House reinstates access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico following judge’s order – Reuters
• CNN, MS NOW and Politico allowed back into the White House after judge orders Trump admin to restore access – CNN
• CNN, MS NOW and Politico allowed back in White House after judge orders end to ban – USA Today