Judge Extends White House Press Access for Banned Outlets; Administration Appeals

President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to replace his longest-serving chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to four sources with direct knowledge of his conversations.

Trump has been calling friends and allies to inquire about a successor, with one GOP operative stating Wiles has burned a lot of people. Trump has floated names including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, New York Yankees executive Randy Levine, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and federal housing boss Bill Pulte. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction late Tuesday, blocking the administration from revoking hard passes for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico while their legal challenge proceeds.

The judge found the outlets are likely to succeed on their due process and First Amendment claims, citing a lack of fair notice and an opportunity to be heard. The White House banned these outlets last month over their coverage and has appealed the court ruling. The order remains in effect until a final decision or higher court intervention.

The White House also played a central role in a Justice Department antitrust investigation into TV networks' temporary suspension of pooled coverage, a claim a DOJ official disputed, stating seasoned attorneys first discussed it. The White House is also probing claims of nearly $6 million in missing Kennedy Center money, with former Trump attorney Alina Habba alleging former Kennedy Center leader Ric Grenell failed to deposit a donation. Grenell denied these accusations as absurd and a lie.