Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Judge Keeps CNN, MS NOW and Politico Access to the White House
A federal judge has kept CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters eligible to enter the White House while their lawsuit continues.
President Trump announced a ban on the three outlets on September 18, saying they were reporting fake news.
The outlets sued after their reporters’ White House passes were deactivated.
Judge Timothy Kelly had temporarily blocked the ban, and the White House restored passes to dozens of reporters and staff.
Kelly’s new order means the administration cannot enforce the ban until a trial or appeal.
He said the outlets are likely to succeed on claims involving due process and the First Amendment, while noting that the government can act to protect national security when classified information is unlawfully disclosed.
A federal judge extended an order preventing the Trump administration from barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds.
The ruling preserves the outlets’ access while their lawsuit challenging the ban proceeds.
The judge said the outlets were likely to succeed on due process and First Amendment claims.
The decision does not resolve all of the outlets’ access problems.
- Who
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico, and the Trump administration.
- What
- A federal judge barred the administration from enforcing its ban on the outlets’ access to White House grounds while their lawsuit proceeds.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- White House grounds.
- Why
- The outlets sued to overturn the ban, which Trump announced after complaining that they were “reporting” fake news.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico
Trump administration
Access
CNN, MS NOW and Politico
The outlets sued to overturn the ban and challenged it on due process and First Amendment grounds.
Trump administration
The administration had barred the outlets from White House grounds.
Reporting and security
CNN, MS NOW and Politico
Not stated in the sources.
Trump administration
Trump complained that the outlets were “reporting” fake news; the judge said the government could act when its true aim is to protect national security against unlawful disclosure of classified information.
Trump announced that he was barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds.
Reporters from the outlets found their hard passes deactivated when they tried to enter a security checkpoint.
Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order, and the White House restored hard passes to dozens of reporters and other staffers.
The temporary restraining order expired.
Kelly’s preliminary injunction blocked the administration from enforcing the ban while the case proceeds to trial or appeal.
- Outlets affected
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico
- Ruling
- Preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of the ban
- Judge
- U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly
- Trump’s announcement
- Sept. 18
- Restored credentials
- Hard passes for dozens of reporters and other staffers
8 sources
Judge Extends Block on Trump’s White House Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
Federal Judge Again Blocks Trump’s Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
Judge Rules Against White House Resuming Ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico as Legal Battle Continues
Judge extends order giving CNN, MS NOW and Politico access to the White House
Judge extends order blocking Trump from banning reporters from White House
Judge extends White House access for CNN, MS NOW, Politico amid legal fight
Judge Rules Trump Administration Can’t Resume Ban On CNN, MS NOW & Politico From White House Grounds
What people are saying
are likely to succeed not only on their due process claim, but also on their two First Amendment claims.
no one should interpret the Court’s decision to suggest that President Trump’s concerns about accuracy and fairness in the media’s reporting are unfounded, or that the government is powerless when its true aim is to protect national security when classified information is unlawfully disclosed.
reporting’ fake news