A federal judge has ruled that the White House must continue granting access to reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, reversing President Donald Trump’s move to bar these outlets from the presidential complex. The decision was issued on October 13 by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, who granted a preliminary injunction preserving the media organizations’ coverage privileges while their lawsuit progresses.

The dispute began on September 18, when Trump announced via social media that he was banning the three news organizations from White House grounds, citing frustration over what he characterized as persistent “fake news” coverage. The move prompted concern among free speech advocates, who warned that restricting press access could undermine democratic principles.

Prior to the preliminary injunction, Judge Kelly had put a temporary restraining order in place to halt the ban, which was nearing expiration on October 13. The new ruling extends protections for the outlets, affirming their access as the legal challenge continues.

In their lawsuit, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico contend that the ban infringed on their constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. While the restrictions prevent their reporters from being physically present inside the White House, the outlets remain able to cover the president and administration remotely.

The Trump administration has defended the ban in court filings, arguing that White House access is a privilege rather than a right. The government also maintained that the targeted outlets compromise national security through their publication of classified or sensitive information.

Judge Kelly’s opinion highlighted that the news organizations were likely to succeed in demonstrating a due process violation, noting they had received no prior notice of the conduct that would lead to the revocation of their press credentials, nor the severity of the sanction. This lack of procedural fairness formed a critical part of the judge’s reasoning.

Regarding the First Amendment claim, Kelly found that Trump’s own statements suggested the ban was retaliatory and discriminated against the reporters based on their viewpoints. The judge cited Trump’s initial announcement, in which the president attributed the ban to the outlets’ alleged “constant ‘reporting’ of ‘FAKE NEWS,’” as evidence of viewpoint-based discrimination.

While the ruling restores physical access to the White House, the administration has nonetheless restricted some logistical aspects of the media’s work. Reporters from CNN and Politico, for instance, have been barred from traveling aboard Air Force One.

The case remains pending, with the court set to further examine the constitutional issues surrounding media access and the limits of presidential authority to restrict the press.