Political editor
WASHINGTON — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily blocking a ban imposed by President Donald Trump on the three news organisations.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order early Thursday after the three outlets challenged the administration’s decision in court. The judge ordered officials to immediately return and restore the journalists’ White House press credentials and barred enforcement of the ban for 14 days. The ruling followed an emergency hearing on Wednesday in Washington, where Kelly questioned whether the administration had followed legally required procedures before revoking the reporters’ access.
The three news organisations argued that the ban violated their First Amendment rights and denied them due process. The administration, meanwhile, maintained that access to the White House is a privilege and defended the restrictions partly on national security grounds.
Kelly said the government had not provided adequate factual support for the argument that barring the outlets would protect national security. He also pointed to earlier court decisions requiring journalists to receive notice and an opportunity to challenge the withdrawal of their White House press credentials. Trump announced the ban on September 18, accusing the three organisations of unfair and inaccurate coverage. The administration subsequently argued that some of their reporting posed national security concerns.
The legal challenge is expected to continue beyond the temporary 14-day order. The ruling does not finally decide the broader constitutional dispute, but restores the journalists’ access while the case proceeds.
The case represents another major legal confrontation between the Trump administration and news organisations over access to the White House and the constitutional protections afforded to the press.
