White House Restores Access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico After Judge's Order
CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists returned to the White House after a judge temporarily blocked their ban, even as the press corps remains uneasy over access.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists were permitted back into the White House on Thursday, nearly a week after President Donald Trump barred them from the complex over what he described as "fake news." Their return followed a federal judge's ruling that the administration must temporarily restore their access.
The three outlets had challenged the ban in a joint lawsuit, arguing it was a blatant violation of the First Amendment because it singled them out for the content of their coverage. In a late-night decision, federal judge Timothy Kelly said the news organizations had met the legal thresholds for a temporary restraining order, which remains in effect for 14 days, and were likely to show they had not been given due process.
Trump first announced the ban last week on Friday, attacking what he called "fake news." He later said the outlets' reporting posed a risk to national security.
The episode has unsettled the White House press corps. A photographer covering the day's events said the pool had felt "a little anxious" in recent days as journalists watched colleagues lose access to the complex. The correspondent noted that members of the press corps are used to working alongside one another and want every journalist to have the opportunity to do their job, even when they are competitors.
Thursday's coverage of Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping also featured an unusual arrangement: only still photographers were allowed into the Oval Office, rather than the full press pool of photographers, reporters and television cameras. The photographer described the two leaders as appearing relaxed, with Trump gesturing frequently toward Xi and remarking that the Chinese press was "very friendly" for addressing Xi as "sir" and asking permission before posing questions.
The two presidents later walked into the Rose Garden with first ladies Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, where they stood at the top of the stairs to watch a military review.