Judge blocks Trump ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House press pool. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Timothy P. Kelly granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the revocation of journalists' hard passes likely violated their Fifth and First Amendment rights. The decision restores access for reporters from the three outlets while the lawsuit continues.

Judicial Ruling and Legal Grounds

Judge Kelly, who was appointed by President Trump, issued a 26-page decision stating that the ban likely deterred protected speech. "It is likely that President Trump's revocation of Plaintiffs' hard passes is the sort of action that would deter a reasonable reporter or news organization from publishing stories to which he objects," Kelly wrote. He further noted that the revocation "matters a lot as to how, whether, and to what extent they can do their jobs."

The judge found that the administration failed to provide sufficient evidence that the initial decision was based on national security grounds. Kelly pointed out that when the ban was announced on September 18, the president did not mention national security. The judge stated that subsequent references to national security appeared to be "simply another way for him to describe Plaintiffs' alleged inaccuracies and unfairness in their reporting."

Administration Response and Appeal

The Justice Department plans to appeal the ruling. A White House official criticized the decision in a statement, saying, "The Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President's Oval Office." The official added that the outlets are "completely capable of reporting from directly outside."

Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer representing the news organizations, said the court was right to block the ban. "When the President issued his 'ban on the free press,' he blatantly and explicitly violated due process and the First Amendment," Boutrous said. He argued that the president admitted publicly that the ban was intended to punish reporting he disliked.

Press Freedom Advocates React

Press freedom groups welcomed the injunction but warned of continued threats. Mark Thompson, CNN chairman and editor-in-chief, said news outlets must be "forever vigilant" about First Amendment rights. "I mean, this topic is one we’re never going to back down from," Thompson said. "And no matter how many court cases, investigations, court appearances and all the expense that that entails, we will fight this one to the end."

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, noted that the ruling "protects not only CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, but all the other holders of White House passes who continued to work under the threat of retaliation." Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute, expressed concern that the White House continues to ban some outlets and threaten others. "That practice is unconstitutional, and harms both the press and the public," Fallow said.

Why it matters

This ruling represents a significant legal check on executive power regarding media access. While the injunction provides temporary relief, the Justice Department's appeal and ongoing investigations into other networks suggest the conflict over press access and First Amendment protections will continue. The case highlights the tension between presidential authority to control access to the White House and constitutional guarantees of free speech and due process.

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Sources

• cnn.com: News outlets win a round against Trump’s press ban — but the fight is far from over | CNN Business
• cbsnews.com: Judge blocks Trump's White House ban targeting CNN, MS NOW and Politico, saying it likely violated First Amendment - CBS News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.