In a significant development for press freedom, U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The judge found the ban, announced by President Trump on September 18, to be likely unconstitutional and lacking factual support for any national‑security justification.
Administration’s Position
President Trump imposed the ban after stating on social media that the three outlets were “constantly writing or reporting FICTION and LIES.” The Justice Department later argued that White House access is a privilege, not an entitlement, and that the president has the authority to suspend it when necessary. While the administration maintains that the ban was intended to protect the integrity of White House communications, the judge rejected the national‑security argument, noting that the record does not show how revoking the passes would protect the nation.
Judge’s Findings
Judge Kelly ordered the administration to return the press passes within 14 days and barred officials from enforcing the ban during that period. He cited two precedents from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that require journalists to receive due process before their White House credentials can be revoked. The judge also highlighted that the administration’s letters explaining the ban were sent after the revocation and after the lawsuit was filed, raising questions about the adequacy of the explanation.
Legal Challenge
The three news organizations sued President Trump and senior administration officials, alleging violations of the First Amendment’s free‑speech and free‑press protections, as well as due‑process rights. Their temporary restraining order sought immediate reinstatement of access while the case proceeds. A coalition of press‑freedom groups, including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reuters, The Washington Post and Fox News, filed an amicus brief supporting the outlets, arguing that stripping journalists of access based on perceived editorial viewpoint contradicts decades of Supreme Court jurisprudence.
Broader Context
This ruling arrives as the nation heads toward the November 3 midterm elections, a critical moment for the Republican Party’s congressional agenda. While President Trump’s approval ratings have slipped in recent polls, the administration continues to defend its actions as necessary to preserve the credibility of the White House’s messaging.
What’s Next?
The Trump administration may appeal Judge Kelly’s order, but the immediate effect is that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will regain their White House press passes for at least the next two weeks. The case underscores the ongoing tension between the executive branch’s desire to control its narrative and the press’s constitutional right to report on government affairs.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
