A federal judge on Tuesday (Oct 13) ordered the Trump administration to allow journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico to access the White House while a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s press ban moves through the courts. US District Judge Timothy Kelly directed the administration not to enforce its September 18, 2026, decision to revoke the White House “hard pass” press credentials held by employees of the three news organisations. The ruling extends protections for the outlets as the legal battle continues and sets the stage for a potential government appeal.Kelly’s earlier order blocking the ban was due to expire on Tuesday.<h2>Why did Trump ban the three media organisations from the White House?</h2>Trump has repeatedly defended the decision to restrict the outlets, pointing to what he described as their “negative” or “one-sided” coverage of his administration.In court filings, however, the Justice Department presented an additional justification, arguing that the decision was linked to national security concerns. It cited reporting by the organisations on the Iran war, construction of a ballroom in the White House’s East Wing and the midterm Republican convention.The news organisations have argued that the ban interferes with their ability to report on the president and risks discouraging other media outlets from pursuing critical coverage.<h2>Judge questions government’s rationale</h2>During a hearing last Thursday, Kelly questioned the differing explanations offered by Trump and government lawyers for the decision. The judge described it as “unusual” for the decision-maker to have publicly cited one set of reasons for an action while the government subsequently advanced another explanation in court.Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik argued that the president has discretion to remove reporters or news organisations from the White House. He also said CNN had been on notice for years, pointing to Trump’s repeated description of the network as “fake news”.“Trump doesn’t mind negative press stories if he deserves them,” Velchik told the court.<h2>Media organisations challenge the ban</h2>Ted Boutrous Jr., the lawyer representing the three news organisations, argued that Trump had personally made the decision and had repeatedly explained his reasons in public. “We know what he decided. He said it over and over again,” Boutrous said, adding that the president had issued the ban himself.Boutrous also questioned the basis for the decision, saying the only explanation he could come up with was that the president had “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” and decided to impose the restrictions.The latest order keeps the three organisations’ White House access in place as the case proceeds.

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico while their lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s press ban continues. All you need to know.

A federal judge on Tuesday (Oct 13) ordered the Trump administration to allow journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico to access the White House while a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s press ban moves through the courts. US District Judge Timothy Kelly directed the administration not to enforce its September 18, 2026, decision to revoke the White House “hard pass” press credentials held by employees of the three news organisations. The ruling extends protections for the outlets as the legal battle continues and sets the stage for a potential government appeal. Kelly’s earlier order blocking the ban was due to expire on Tuesday. Why did Trump ban the three media organisations from the White House? Trump has repeatedly defended the decision to restrict the outlets, pointing to what he described as their “negative” or “one-sided” coverage of his administration. In court filings, however, the Justice Department presented an additional justification, arguing that the decision was linked to national security concerns. It cited reporting by the organisations on the Iran war, construction of a ballroom in the White House’s East Wing and the midterm Republican convention. The news organisations have argued that the ban interferes with their ability to report on the president and risks discouraging other media outlets from pursuing critical coverage. Judge questions government’s rationale During a hearing last Thursday, Kelly questioned the differing explanations offered by Trump and government lawyers for the decision. The judge described it as “unusual” for the decision-maker to have publicly cited one set of reasons for an action while the government subsequently advanced another explanation in court. Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik argued that the president has discretion to remove reporters or news organisations from the White House. He also said CNN had been on notice for years, pointing to Trump’s repeated description of the network as “fake news”. “Trump doesn’t mind negative press stories if he deserves them,” Velchik told the court. Media organisations challenge the ban Ted Boutrous Jr., the lawyer representing the three news organisations, argued that Trump had personally made the decision and had repeatedly explained his reasons in public. “We know what he decided. He said it over and over again,” Boutrous said, adding that the president had issued the ban himself. Boutrous also questioned the basis for the decision, saying the only explanation he could come up with was that the president had “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” and decided to impose the restrictions. The latest order keeps the three organisations’ White House access in place as the case proceeds.

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico while their lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s press ban continues. All you need to know.

Judge indefinitely blocks Trump from banning CNN, MS NOW, Politico from White House

A federal judge in the United States has reinstated CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s access to the White House, days after US President Donald Trump banned them from the premises.Federal Judge Timothy Kelly has ordered the Trump administration to restore the media publications' access.Just days earlier, on Friday (Sep 18), Trump barred them from the presidential mansion as punishment for distributing what he calls "fake news." The POTUS had said on social media that the three outlets “shouldn’t be ⁠able to constantly write or ​report ​FICTION and LIES,” ​and Justice Department lawyers ​had ‌sought to ​justify ​the ban on national security grounds. The DoJ, in a justification for the ban, said that "Access to the White House is a privilege -- not a right".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-questions-trump-s-decision-to-ban-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-from-white-house-1790197444831">US judge questions Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House</a><h2>No notice given to journalists</h2>“The ‘general rule’ is that individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them of a constitutionally protected interest,” Kelly wrote in his order.Notably, according to reports, the Trump administration waited until Wednesday to inform the reporters about the chance to appeal his decision, several days after the passes were taken away.Earlier on Wednesday, the Judge had noted that past cases clearly laid out the need for a distinct process involving advance notice of an infraction and the opportunity to plead one’s case.“Before a journalist’s White House hard pass was suspended or revoked, that the journalist was entitled to pre-deprivation notice and an opportunity to be heard” said Kelly.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-helipad-event-overshadowed-by-audio-failure-as-major-tv-networks-suspend-pool-coverage-1790042411507">Trump's helipad event overshadowed by audio failure as major TV networks suspend pool coverage</a><h2>What led to the judge's order?</h2>After Trump's announcement of the ban, the three news outlets sued, requesting that the ban be paused or blocked entirely. An attorney representing the outlets argued in court filings and at a Wednesday hearing that the ban went against previous court rulings, violated due process, and was enacted simply because of Trump’s dislike of the journalists.The administration’s lawyers responded by stating that Trump’s decision did have an appeals process, which was detailed in letters sent to the outlets days after the ban was declared.&nbsp;

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico, days after the outlets were barred. The ruling comes after the organisations challenged the ban in court.

A federal judge in the United States has reinstated CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s access to the White House, days after US President Donald Trump banned them from the premises. Federal Judge Timothy Kelly has ordered the Trump administration to restore the media publications' access. Just days earlier, on Friday (Sep 18), Trump barred them from the presidential mansion as punishment for distributing what he calls "fake news." The POTUS had said on social media that the three outlets “shouldn’t be ⁠able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES,” and Justice Department lawyers had ‌sought to justify the ban on national security grounds. The DoJ, in a justification for the ban, said that "Access to the White House is a privilege -- not a right". Also read | US judge questions Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House No notice given to journalists “The ‘general rule’ is that individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them of a constitutionally protected interest,” Kelly wrote in his order. Notably, according to reports, the Trump administration waited until Wednesday to inform the reporters about the chance to appeal his decision, several days after the passes were taken away. Earlier on Wednesday, the Judge had noted that past cases clearly laid out the need for a distinct process involving advance notice of an infraction and the opportunity to plead one’s case. “Before a journalist’s White House hard pass was suspended or revoked, that the journalist was entitled to pre-deprivation notice and an opportunity to be heard” said Kelly. Also read | Trump's helipad event overshadowed by audio failure as major TV networks suspend pool coverage What led to the judge's order? After Trump's announcement of the ban, the three news outlets sued, requesting that the ban be paused or blocked entirely. An attorney representing the outlets argued in court filings and at a Wednesday hearing that the ban went against previous court rulings, violated due process, and was enacted simply because of Trump’s dislike of the journalists. The administration’s lawyers responded by stating that Trump’s decision did have an appeals process, which was detailed in letters sent to the outlets days after the ban was declared.

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico, days after the outlets were barred. The ruling comes after the organisations challenged the ban in court.

Trump’s CNN, MS NOW, Politico White House ban hit by court order: Access must be restored

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Judge indefinitely blocks Trump from banning CNN, MS NOW, Politico from White House

Judge orders Trump to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW, Politico