White House Restores CNN, MS NOW and Politico Access After Judge Calls Ban Likely Unconstitutional

The White House reinstated press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Thursday, hours after a federal judge ordered an immediate halt to President Donald Trump's ban on the three outlets, calling the restriction likely unconstitutional.

The decision by US District Judge Tim Kelly, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, came in a lawsuit the news organizations filed on Monday. Kelly ordered a 14-day pause on the ban, finding that revoking the journalists' White House credentials "likely violated their constitutional due process rights." He also questioned the Justice Department's national security justification, noting that Trump himself had attributed the ban to what he called false or negative coverage.

The reinstatement followed a chaotic morning in which the journalists were still blocked from entering the White House grounds despite the overnight ruling. CNN, MS NOW and Politico told the judge they remained barred and requested an emergency hearing. Politico said its reporter's credentials were confiscated, an MS NOW reporter said she was blocked, and CNN said some staff members were denied entry.

In a court filing, Micah Stopperich, the White House director of press operations, said the process of reinstating press badges began at 7:25 a.m. and that badges were dropped at the entry gate around 9:55 a.m. After receiving that declaration, Kelly denied the request for an emergency hearing but allowed the outlets to report any further factual developments later in the day.

The dispute unfolded during a significant diplomatic period for Trump, coinciding with his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and his hosting of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. A source familiar with the White House television press pool said its members would not resume coverage until CNN is formally reinstated to the pool. Earlier in the week, the pool had suspended pooled coverage in solidarity with CNN. No TV pool cameras were set up for Xi's arrival on the South Lawn, and FOX News, MS NOW and CNN did not air the arrival ceremony live.

CNN is one of five outlets—along with ABC, CBS, FOX News and NBC—that form the primary White House television pool, sharing costs and providing footage to other organizations. CNN had been scheduled to cover Trump's trip to New York on Monday but was unable to provide a pool feed.

Trump announced the ban on Friday on his social media platform, saying the outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES" and framing their reporting as a national security threat. The three outlets sued Trump and other administration members, arguing the ban violated First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as due process rights. A coalition of press freedom groups and dozens of news organizations later filed a legal brief supporting them.

Kelly rejected the administration's national security concerns, writing that the record lacked factual support for the contention that revoking the passes would protect national security or that security would be endangered by reinstating them during litigation. The Justice Department had accused the outlets of threatening national security with stories about US missile stockpiles, construction of Trump's White House ballroom and turnout at a recent Republican midterm convention.

Theodore Boutrous, an attorney for the three outlets, welcomed the ruling as a strong vindication of press freedom, due process and the rule of law, and expressed appreciation for the court's swift action.

The ruling came a day after Trump suffered another legal setback. On Wednesday, an Iowa judge dismissed Trump's 2024 lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over a poll published before the November 2024 election that showed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris leading in Iowa. Iowa District Judge Scott Beattie said the poll was legally protected speech.