Donald Trump‘s media ban faced a legal setback following a federal judge’s order. The judge ordered White House to immediately reinstate access to the news channels like CNN, Politico, MS NOW from the White House.
Judge blocks Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly of the D.C. Circuit ordered the Trump administration to provide immediate access to journalists from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW. The Judge granted the news organizations’ request for a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit.
News organizations filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and three White House officials. The news organizations alleged that the president’s ban on the media violated the First Amendment. The temporary restraining order by the judge will remain effective for 14 days.
According to Variety, Judge Timothy Kelly wrote in a ruling that the White House must “immediately return, reinstate, and restore the White House ‘hard pass’ press credentials held by employees of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO that were revoked on or about September 18, 2026. Until further Order of the Court or the expiration of this Temporary Restraining Order.”
Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer representing organizations, said, “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”
Despite the order, the Secret Service did not allow news staff in the White House on Thursday. Following the incident, the attorneys representing the organization filed a motion for an immediate hearing over the Trump administration’s “non-compliance” with the TRO.
In response to the lawsuit, White House claimed in a filing that it was “classified and sensitive national security information.” They cited that details of construction at White House need to be “top secret.”
Kelly wrote in order, “No doubt, protection of national security is a weighty interest on the [White House’s] part. Certainly, that is not what President Trump said when he announced that he was ‘banning’ Plaintiffs from the White House — instead, he focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of Plaintiffs’ reporting.”
Last Friday, Trump announced the ban with immediate effect. However, White House has not responded to the judge’s order.
