Judge Kelly Restores 3 Outlets' White House Access for 14 Days
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 24
Judge Kelly Restores 3 Outlets' White House Access for 14 Days
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 24
Summary
A federal judge ordered the White House to immediately reinstate press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, granting a 14-day restraining order against Trump’s ban.
Judge Timothy J. Kelly said the outlets were likely to win on due process grounds because their credentials were revoked without advance notice or a meaningful chance to respond.
Kelly also rejected, for now, the administration’s claim that the ban was needed for national security, undercutting the White House’s main courtroom defense.
The ruling pauses a standoff that began after Trump said the outlets were barred over their reporting, prompting a lawsuit Monday and solidarity actions by other news organizations.
The case echoes Kelly’s 2018 order restoring CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s pass and adds to broader court fights over Trump-era restrictions on press access.
How does the court balance alleged national security concerns against constitutional press freedoms in this unprecedented credential dispute?
Trump’s 2026 White House Media Ban: The CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Lockout, Legal Showdown, and the Collapse of the Press Pool
Overview
On September 18, 2026, President Trump announced a sudden ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, which was enforced the next day as journalists were locked out and their press passes deactivated. This sparked a joint lawsuit from the banned outlets, leading to an emergency court hearing. In solidarity, major TV networks suspended their coverage, and other media organizations joined a boycott, leaving the White House to rely on its own flawed broadcasts. The administration promoted its own media channels to bypass traditional press, while journalists and lawmakers rallied against the unprecedented restrictions, highlighting a deepening crisis in press freedom and government transparency.