A U.S. district judge has ordered the White House to reinstate press credentials for journalists from CNN and Politico, temporarily blocking a ban imposed by former President Donald Trump. The ruling, issued on September 25 by Judge Tim Kelly, requires the administration to restore access within 14 days and prohibits officials from enforcing the ban during this period.
The move comes after Trump announced on September 18 that CNN, Politico, and MSNBC would be barred from White House events, citing their frequent publication of what he described as “fake news.” The administration claimed the ban was justified due to the news outlets’ alleged dissemination of false information related to national security and other sensitive matters. Letters provided to the court stated the journalists were banned for “trafficking in verifiable falsehoods” and for publishing classified or sensitive information.
In response, the affected media organizations filed a lawsuit arguing that the revocation of credentials without prior notice or a formal process infringes on press freedom and undermines the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference. Judge Kelly, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and has previously ruled in favor of journalists’ access in similar cases, heard arguments earlier this week but did not issue an immediate ruling. Yesterday’s temporary restraining order maintains the status quo while the case undergoes more thorough judicial review.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and several major news outlets. Following the ban, major U.S. television networks began boycotting the president’s official public appearances, declining to film or broadcast them. In response, Trump launched a YouTube channel dubbed “Trump TV” to disseminate his messages directly. On his social media platform, Truth Social, the former president reiterated his criticism of what he called “fiction and lies” in media coverage of his administration and suggested additional news organizations could face similar sanctions.
The controversy extended to a recent exchange at the United Nations in New York, where Trump confronted CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins after she posed a question, telling her she “should not be here covering me.” Collins replied that the UN had granted her access.
Politico is part of the Axel Springer group, which also owns The Telegraph. The case remains under judicial consideration, with the temporary restraining order set to expire in two weeks unless extended by the court.