Federal Judge Orders White House to Reinstate Press Access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico

<p>A federal judge ruled on October 13, 2026, that the Trump administration must continue to grant CNN, MS NOW, and Politico access to the White House grounds while a lawsuit filed by the three news organizations is ongoing.</p><p><strong>Details of the Ruling:</strong> Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by President Trump, issued a temporary restraining order on September 24, mandating the White House to reinstate the outlets' credentials for a period of 14 days. This order has been extended through October 13.</p><p>The preliminary injunction preserves access until the case is resolved, which could take an extended period of time.</p><p>The court order states, "Defendants (except for President Trump) and their agents, representatives, and all persons or entities acting in concert with them, shall not execute, implement, or enforce the September 18, 2026, decision to revoke the White House 'hard pass' press credentials held by employees of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO."</p><p><strong>Limitations of the Ruling:</strong> The ruling does not guarantee that the plaintiffs will have access to key areas, such as the Oval Office and Air Force One. The White House has continued to bar CNN and Politico journalists from press pool assignments on Air Force One, despite the reinstatement of their credentials.</p><p>A separate lawsuit brought by the Associated Press could clarify the extent of the president's power to restrict reporters from certain areas.</p><p><strong>Background of the Lawsuit:</strong> The news outlets argue that their First Amendment rights were violated when they were blocked from access in retaliation for their reporting and that their Fifth Amendment rights were violated due to being banned without due process.</p><p>The temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction suggest that the judge believes the plaintiffs have a strong case regarding their Fifth Amendment claims. Further legal proceedings will determine whether the White House violated the outlets' First Amendment rights.</p><p>Legal experts indicate that the news organizations have a strong case, citing a precedent set by the 1977 Sherrill v. Knight case, where an appeals court ruled it unconstitutional for the White House to revoke press credentials based on a journalist's reporting or viewpoint.</p><p>Comments made by President Trump regarding the ban, including statements about negative news coverage, are also noted as part of the justification for the lawsuit.</p><p><strong>Reactions from the Press Pool:</strong> The broader White House press pool has shown solidarity with the barred outlets. The White House attempted to fill CNN and Politico's spots in the press pool with other outlets, but those outlets have refused. Some have indicated they will withhold publication or distribution of images captured as part of the White House still photography pool until the court hears arguments on the legal claims filed by the affected media organizations.</p>