US Judge Orders Trump Administration To Restore White House Access For Banned News Outlets

A US federal judge has ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the ban imposed on the three outlets was likely unconstitutional.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order early Thursday, directing the administration to return the media organisations' White House press access. The order will remain in effect for 14 days while the court considers the broader legal challenge.

News Outlets Challenged White House Ban

The three news organisations had filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration barred their journalists from accessing the White House. They argued that the restrictions were linked to their coverage and amounted to discrimination based on their editorial viewpoints.

The outlets described the decision as a violation of press freedom and the First Amendment, while seeking immediate court protection to regain access to the White House.

Judge Kelly said the organisations had met the legal requirements for a temporary restraining order, including demonstrating a likelihood of success in their case and the possibility of irreparable harm if the restrictions remained in place.

Trump Administration Defends Restrictions

The Trump administration had argued that the president has broad authority over access to the White House and sought to justify the restrictions by citing national security concerns.

Trump had announced the ban on September 18 and criticised the three outlets, accusing them of repeatedly publishing what he characterised as false reporting. The administration's lawyers subsequently defended the restrictions in court.

The outlets disputed that justification, arguing that the restrictions were instead connected to their reporting.

Judge Cites Due Process

In his ruling, Kelly pointed to previous court decisions concerning White House press access. He said journalists holding White House hard passes should receive notice of an alleged violation and an opportunity to respond before their access is suspended or revoked.

The judge's order does not resolve the underlying lawsuit permanently. Instead, the temporary measure preserves access while the court examines the legal arguments surrounding the administration's decision.

Kelly was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2017. He had also previously ordered the restoration of access to a CNN journalist in a separate dispute during Trump's first administration.

The ruling marks another legal confrontation between the Trump administration and news organisations over access to the White House and the limits of presidential authority over journalists covering the presidency.