Federal judge orders Trump to restore media access to White House

On September 24, a federal judge ordered US President Donald Trump to immediately restore White House press access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The order follows a lawsuit filed by the three media organizations after President Trump announced a ban on their access on September 18 via his Truth Social platform, accusing them of reporting "fiction and lies.

US District Judge Tim Kelly blocked the administration from enforcing the ban for 14 days and required the return of the reporters' press passes. The court rejected the government's argument that the revocation was a matter of national security, noting that the President's own statements attributed the ban to the outlets' allegedly negative reporting. The judge concluded that the ban likely violated constitutional rights to due process and free speech.

This legal battle occurred against the backdrop of the upcoming November midterm elections, where Trump faces concerns over his approval ratings. While the Trump administration argued that White House access is a privilege rather than a constitutional right, the ruling serves as a significant setback for the President. The White House has not yet issued a formal response regarding the court's decision, and the case remains subject to further litigation.