Law & Justice
CNN, MS NOW and Politico get White House access order
US federal judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration on Thursday to immediately restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after President Donald Trump barred their reporters from the premises.
Kelly found that revoking the outlets' press passes likely violated their constitutional due process rights. He wrote that people generally must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government deprives them of a constitutionally protected interest.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico had filed a joint lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order. They argued that the ban violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Trump barred the outlets on Friday as punishment for distributing what he called “fake news” and “fiction and lies.” The outlets said the White House revoked their journalists' credentials without notice or process because it objected to their reporting.
Update
US federal judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Kelly found the revocation of press passes likely violated the outlets' constitutional due process rights.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 September 2026 at 06:27:52 UTC.
Update
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said they notified the government that they were filing a lawsuit on Monday.
The outlets said they were suing to protect First Amendment rights and press freedom.
The outlets said the White House revoked their journalists' credentials without notice or process because it objected to their reporting.
Updated White House guidance late Sunday listed a back-up crew instead of CNN for Monday's TV pool assignment.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 11:18:38 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The ruling described a likely due process violation at the temporary restraining order stage, not a final resolution of the lawsuit.
Source
AFP news report published on .