A temporary court order has restored White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, but the three outlets now want that protection to last. Their lawyers say recent White House actions show the administration could quickly bring back the restrictions if the judge does not step in again.
CNN, MS Now, and Politico seek continued protection against the ban
The request comes after U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order last week. The order required the White House to restore reporters’ access while Kelly reviews the broader legal fight over credentials that the administration removed from journalists at the three outlets (via Deadline).
The outlets’ latest federal court filing points to what happened after that order. Their lawyers highlighted CNN’s exclusion from State Dinner arrivals Thursday and its removal from TV pool duties aboard Air Force One during Trump’s Saturday trip to Tennessee. No replacement took CNN’s place, leaving limited television footage from the trip.
Led by Theodore Boutrous Jr., the legal team argued that these moves suggest the administration could “immediately reinstitute a complete ban” if given the chance. The filing also called the restrictions an “unlawful assault” on First Amendment freedoms and asked Kelly to block enforcement while the case continues.
Kelly previously found a due-process problem with the White House’s decision to revoke multiple press credentials. The Trump Justice Department has pointed to “professionalism and decorum” and national security, but the outlets described those explanations as vague and “pretextual.” Their filing also says Trump has criticized their coverage as “Purposely … negative” and argues that the restrictions seek to pressure the outlets into more favorable reporting.
The dispute has also affected the broader White House TV pool. CBS News, ABC News, Fox News and NBC News initially refused to take part after CNN’s exclusion, leaving little television coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s White House visit.
