Trump administration complies with court order to restore media access

by@Reuters

Summary

On September 25, 2026, President Donald Trump's administration reinstated White House access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, complying with a judge's temporary order following a media ban issued the previous week. US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the outlets are likely to succeed in their claim of violation of due process, as journalists have a right to a notice and an opportunity to be heard before their credentials are revoked. The judge did not yet rule on the broader First Amendment claims regarding freedom of speech, but the three outlets have until September 28 to request a preliminary injunction that would maintain the block on the ban throughout the ongoing lawsuit. The Trump administration is considering an appeal if the injunction is granted.

Analysis

CNN: CNN is a major US news organization. It was one of three outlets whose White House press access was revoked by the Trump administration last week. The network joined the lawsuit challenging the ban on due process and First Amendment grounds. MS NOW: MS NOW is a US news organization. It was among the three media outlets whose White House access was revoked by the Trump administration. The outlet filed suit with CNN and Politico, arguing the ban violated constitutional protections. Politico: Politico is a prominent US news outlet focused on politics and policy. It was included in the Trump administration's White House media ban announced last week. The outlet is a plaintiff in the ongoing federal lawsuit seeking to restore its credentials. Donald Trump: Donald Trump is the President of the United States. He announced the White House media ban on his social media platform last week targeting three outlets for their coverage. His administration complied with the temporary court order but faces ongoing litigation over the decision. Timothy Kelly: Timothy Kelly is a US District Judge in Washington, D.C., appointed by President Trump. He issued the temporary restraining order requiring restoration of the three outlets' press credentials. Kelly previously handled a similar 2018 case involving revocation of a CNN journalist's access. Theodore Boutrous: Theodore Boutrous is a lawyer representing the three media outlets in the lawsuit. He argued in court that the judge should address both due process and First Amendment claims to prevent further attempts to revoke access. Boutrous warned that limiting the ruling to due process could allow renewed efforts by the administration. US Department of Justice: The US Department of Justice is representing the Trump administration in the lawsuit. It filed arguments accusing the outlets of threatening national security through their reporting. The department is expected to respond to further motions in the case. Legal Precedent: A similar 2018 case involving revocation of White House press credentials resulted in the credential being restored after a preliminary court decision favoring the journalist. Upcoming Proceedings: The outlets have until September 28 to seek a preliminary injunction that would extend the block on the ban through the full duration of the lawsuit. Administration Response: The Trump administration has indicated it may pursue an appeal or attempt a revised process to revoke access if the court issues a longer-term injunction.

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