White House Still Blocks Reporters Despite Judge's Order Lifting Ban

Politics60 sourcesSep 24, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 58/100

The Story

The White House continued to deny access to some journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico on Thursday, despite a federal judge's order to immediately restore their press credentials.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order late Wednesday evening, stating President Donald Trump's media ban was likely unconstitutional. The order requires the defendants, excluding President Trump, to immediately return, reinstate, and restore the White House hard-pass press credentials revoked on September 18. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days.

MS NOW reporter Laura Barrón-López and a producer had their press passes confiscated when attempting to enter, though a second MS NOW producer was allowed in. Politico reported at least one of its reporters was blocked, and CNN stated some staff were denied access, but at least one was allowed. Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney for the outlets, notified Judge Kelly of the White House's non-compliance and requested an immediate hearing.

Judge Kelly, nominated by President Trump in 2017, directed President Trump and other defendants to respond to the filing by 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday. The outlets argued the restriction violates the First Amendment and their right to due process. Judge Kelly expressed skepticism about the Trump administration's argument that the cited stories raised national security concerns, describing them as routine.

He noted President Trump did not mention national security when announcing the ban. President Trump first announced the ban on September 18, stating media outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES. He also suggested he was considering banning other media outlets. The ban triggered a media-wide boycott from other major TV networks, including Fox News, ABC, CBS, and NBC, which abandoned their posts in the press pool. Conservative media outlets like Real America’s Voice and LindellTV filled in for the TV pool.

What they agree on

A federal judge ordered the White House to immediately restore press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
Despite the judge's order, some journalists from these three outlets were still denied access to the White House on Thursday morning.
The judge's temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days and states that President Donald Trump's media ban was likely unconstitutional.
The media outlets argued that the ban violated their First Amendment rights and due process, a claim the judge found likely to succeed.
President Trump initially announced the ban on September 18, citing "fake news" and "FICTION and LIES" in their reporting.

Where they split

CNBC and The Daily Beast highlight the White House's "non-compliance" with the judge's order, detailing instances of reporters having passes confiscated, while Reuters and The Wall Street Journal simply state access was denied despite the order.
Vox and The Daily Wire emphasize President Trump's prior knowledge that he would likely lose the legal fight and his broader pattern of escalating attacks on the news media.
The Daily Caller and Breitbart News frame the judge's order as a directive to restore "privileged" access to "liberal" press, linking it to President Trump's "fake news" claims.
CBS News and PBS NewsHour provide more detail on the legal arguments, including the judge's skepticism regarding national security concerns as the motivation for the ban.