Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico

The court ruling

US District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration on Thursday to restore White House press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The decision resolved an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order filed by the three news organizations. Kelly determined that the revocation of press passes was likely unconstitutional because officials acted without established procedural rules or timely notice. Kelly, who was appointed to the federal bench by Donald Trump during his first presidential term, previously issued a similar ruling requiring the restoration of a CNN correspondent's credentials during a prior press access dispute.

Origins of the credential ban

The confrontation began on 18 September 2026 when President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would strip the three outlets of their White House credentials.

Media should not be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when covering the President of the United States. Other fake news media will follow soon.

Officials blocked journalists from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue beginning that Saturday, with reporters discovering on Monday that their entry passes were inactive. The Department of Justice argued in court filings that White House access is a privilege rather than a constitutional right, maintaining that the president has the authority to restrict access to secure areas such as the Oval Office. Administration attorneys also cited letters from the White House press office accusing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of publishing classified details regarding military operations in Iran and construction plans for an underground military bunker beneath a projected East Wing ballroom.

Industry response and court arguments

The exclusion of CNN prompted joint action among competitive television networks. CNN was scheduled to manage the five-network television pool responsible for capturing and distributing presidential video footage to all news organizations. On Monday, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News refused to replace CNN and suspended joint television coverage.

The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate and independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a media outlet's access because it objects to its coverage.

The White House Correspondents' Association and nearly 50 media organizations submitted a joint amicus brief supporting the lawsuit. During a court hearing on Wednesday, media attorney Theodore Boutrous told the judge that Trump did not cite national security in his original post and argued that the government cannot punish journalists for routine reporting.

Digital media rollout and executive actions

Following the initial press ban, the White House debuted its own 24-hour streaming network, titled Trump TV, on Monday night to broadcast unedited speeches and administration programming. Tensions continued at subsequent events, including on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Trump confronted a CNN journalist and said the network should not be covering him. The credential dispute occurred alongside broader administration measures targeting the press, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempting to remove reporters from the Pentagon and Federal Communications Commission officials threatening broadcast licenses. Judge Kelly ordered the restoration of access while the underlying lawsuit proceeds.