October 13, 2026
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration cannot reinstate its White House ban on reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW while the outlets challenge the restrictions in court.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump during his first term, granted a preliminary injunction preserving the journalists’ access. He found that the outlets were likely to succeed on claims involving due process, retaliation for protected speech and discrimination based on their editorial viewpoints. The ruling does not resolve the lawsuit.
The dispute began September 18, when Trump announced that the three organizations would lose access over coverage he described as fake news. They sued September 21, arguing that the administration had punished their reporting and revoked credentials without adequate notice or an opportunity to respond.
The administration defended the restrictions by citing professionalism and national security concerns. Kelly found that it had not presented evidence showing that the original decision to revoke the credentials was based on national security grounds.
Tuesday’s decision extends protection beyond the earlier temporary order. It preserves access while the court considers the underlying constitutional claims.
Kelly also made clear that the ruling does not endorse the accuracy of the outlets’ reporting or eliminate the government’s authority to address legitimate national security concerns, including unauthorized disclosures of classified information.
The injunction concerns the reporters’ standing White House credentials. It does not guarantee entry to every presidential event, the Oval Office or Air Force One.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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