RismadarVoice Reporters
September 24, 2026
A United States federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the ban imposed on the three news organisations was likely unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order on Thursday following a lawsuit filed by the three media organisations challenging the withdrawal of their journalists’ White House credentials.
The dispute began after Trump announced on September 18 that he was barring the outlets from the White House, accusing them of publishing what he described as “fake news.”
Journalists representing the organisations subsequently had their White House press credentials deactivated and were denied entry.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico challenged the action in federal court, arguing that the administration had violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their right to due process.
During arguments in the case, the Trump administration defended the restrictions and maintained that the President had acted lawfully.
Kelly, who was appointed to the federal bench by Trump in 2017, had earlier questioned whether the administration’s handling of the matter complied with existing legal precedents governing White House press access.
His latest order requires the administration to restore the affected journalists’ access while the broader legal dispute proceeds.
The case has drawn attention from media organisations and press freedom groups, which argue that government officials should not determine White House access on the basis of whether they approve of an organisation’s reporting.
The ruling represents the latest legal confrontation over the relationship between the Trump administration and news organisations covering the White House.
