CNN, MS NOW and Politico will ask a federal judge Wednesday to restore their reporters’ access to the White House, setting up the first major court hearing over President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke the outlets’ press credentials.
The three news organizations sued the Trump administration after their journalists were turned away from the White House over the weekend. They are seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow their reporters to return while the larger lawsuit moves through federal court.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly is scheduled to consider the request Wednesday.
Outlets challenge Trump’s ban
Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the organizations of reporting what he called “FICTION and LIES.” By Saturday, journalists from all three organizations had been denied entry and their White House credentials were no longer active.
The outlets argue the administration violated the First Amendment by excluding them because of their coverage. They also contend the White House violated their due process rights by taking away their credentials without providing notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision.
The administration maintains that news organizations do not have an automatic right to White House access and can continue covering the president without credentials allowing them onto the grounds.
Vice President JD Vance defended the move Monday, arguing that Trump had not prevented the organizations from reporting on his administration.
“So he’s not banning media outlets,” Vance told reporters. “What he’s doing is saying, ‘we’re not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda’.”
“They can still report on the Trump White House. They can still get the public reports. They can still, of course, talk to people in the administration and outside the administration,” Vance added.
Trump, however, used the word “banning” when announcing the restrictions Friday.
TV networks halt pool coverage
The dispute has also disrupted the system television networks use to cover the president.
CNN had been scheduled to provide White House television pool coverage Monday but was unable to do so after losing access. Other major television networks declined to step in as a replacement.
That meant Trump traveled to New York for the U.N. General Assembly without the usual network television pool accompanying him. The television pool traditionally rotates among the major networks, with the network on duty providing video that can be shared across news organizations.
Judge previously handled CNN access fight
Kelly is familiar with disputes involving CNN and White House credentials.
The Trump-appointed judge presided over CNN’s 2018 lawsuit after the first Trump administration revoked White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credential.
Kelly ordered the administration to temporarily restore Acosta’s credential, concluding that the government had failed to provide him adequate due process before taking it away.
The current case goes further by raising both due process and First Amendment claims and involves the exclusion of three entire news organizations rather than an individual reporter.
