White House restores access to media outlets banned by Trump
A federal judge orders the White House to immediately restore press access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, ruling the ban likely violated constitutional rights.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- US federal judge orders immediate restoration of press access
- CNN, Politico, and MS NOW get press badges reinstated
- Trump previously cited fake news and national security for the ban
- Over 50 media organizations filed amicus briefs supporting the lawsuit
Major news outlets CNN, Politico, and MS NOW have returned to the White House grounds just hours after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump's ban on the three organizations was likely unconstitutional and ordered their press access to be restored immediately.
The White House stated it began reinstating access shortly after 09:00 EDT on Thursday, although CNN disputed the exact timeline. Trump initially justified barring the outlets by accusing them of publishing fake news, before the administration later shifted its rationale to national security concerns.
This standoff restricted some television coverage just as President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House ahead of a scheduled state dinner later that day.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In the early hours, Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the ban should be temporarily lifted because it likely infringed upon their constitutional due process rights. The ruling followed emergency hearing requests filed by CNN, Politico, and MS NOW after their reporters were denied entry and had their press badges confiscated on Thursday morning.
This legal confrontation highlights the delicate balance between executive authority and the First Amendment rights protecting a free press in the United States. While previous administrations, such as Barack Obama's exclusion of Fox News from a specific pool interview in 2009, faced minor access disputes, the sweeping ban imposed by the Trump administration represents an escalation in tensions between the executive branch and independent news organizations. The court's intervention underscores the judiciary's role in checking executive overreach regarding media access.
In response to the legal action, the director of White House Operations submitted a court filing confirming that press passes and confiscated badges had been returned by 09:45. Shortly afterward, all three news organizations verified they were allowed back inside the complex.
Despite the resolution for the barred outlets, major television networks including Fox News, NBC, CBS, and ABC—which had pulled out of the White House press pool in solidarity—have not yet confirmed when they will resume regular televised reporting.
Source: BBC World
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment