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CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters have regained access to the White House after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore their press credentials.
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The restoration followed an emergency request by the three organisations for a court hearing after some of their journalists were initially denied entry despite the judge’s ruling.
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Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the administration had likely violated the journalists’ constitutional right to due process by revoking their White House hard passes without adequate notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision.
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The ruling is temporary and does not resolve the wider legal battle between the Trump administration and the three news organisations.
September 24, (THEWILL) – CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters have been allowed back into the White House after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore their press access.
The restoration came after the three news organisations sought an emergency hearing when some of their journalists were denied entry Thursday morning despite the court order.
THEWILL earlier reported that CNN correspondent Betsy Klein and a photojournalist as well as reporters from MS NOW and Politico were turned away after making several attempts to enter the White House grounds despite a court order.
The outlets subsequently asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to intervene, arguing that the administration had failed to comply with his overnight order restoring their credentials.
Access was later reinstated, bringing the immediate standoff to an end.
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Kelly’s 14-day temporary restraining order directed the Trump administration to restore the journalists’ White House hard passes.
The judge found that the outlets were likely to succeed in their claim that the administration had denied them constitutionally adequate due process by withdrawing their credentials without prior notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision.
Kelly also questioned the administration’s national-security justification for the ban, noting that Trump’s original announcement focused on his criticism of the outlets’ reporting rather than national security.
The administration later argued that some of the reporting raised national-security concerns.
Trump announced the exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico last week, accusing the organisations of publishing what he described as “fake news.”
The three outlets sued, arguing that the decision was unconstitutional and amounted to punishment for their journalism.
The administration, however, maintained that access to the White House is subject to presidential control and defended the restrictions on national-security and professional-conduct grounds.
Kelly’s ruling temporarily rejected the administration’s attempt to maintain the ban while the case proceeds.
The ruling does not represent a final decision on the legality of Trump’s action. The 14-day order allows the three organisations to continue covering the White House while both sides present further arguments and evidence.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
