Judge orders Trump administration to restore journalists' access to White House

Broadcast news workspaces are seen outside the White House in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2026. Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption WASHINGTON — A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Thursday to temporarily restore access to the three media organizations banned from covering White House events last week by President Trump. In a ruling issued shortly after midnight, Judge Timothy Kelly granted a 14-day temporary restraining order to CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which had press credentials of their journalists covering the White House revoked on Saturday at the request of President Trump. CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a joint lawsuit against Trump to challenge that decision on Monday, on the grounds that their constitutional rights had been violated. Trump told reporters on Friday that his decision to ban the three media outlets from White House grounds had not been sparked by any specific reporting but the accumulation of what he called "two years of unfair and negative coverage." However, a court filing by the Department of Justice on Wednesday argued that the three news organizations were barred because their reporting jeopardized national security and spread falsehoods.

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