Federal judge restores White House press access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico

On September 18, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on press access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, accusing the organizations of reporting 'fiction and lies.' The outlets filed a lawsuit challenging the decision, arguing that the ban violated their constitutional rights to free speech and due process. In response, the administration claimed that access to the White House is a privilege, not an entitlement, and cited national security concerns to justify the measure.

On September 24, U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly issued a temporary restraining order against the administration, ruling that the ban likely violated the constitutional due process rights of the news organizations. Judge Kelly, a 2017 Trump appointee, rejected the government's national security argument, noting that the president’s own statements linked the ban to perceived journalistic negativity. Consequently, the court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the outlets' press passes for a period of 14 days.

Following some initial friction, the White House complied with the ruling on Thursday, allowing the journalists to regain entry to the grounds. While the immediate access has been restored, the legal battle continues, and the administration has not ruled out further legal action regarding the long-term status of these credentials.