CNN, Politico and MS NOW Seek Court Order Blocking Trump White House Ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked a federal judge to preserve their access to the White House while they challenge President Donald Trump’s decision to ban the news organizations over their coverage.

The three outlets filed a request Monday for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the Trump administration from enforcing the restrictions until the federal lawsuit is resolved. Their request follows a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who ordered the White House to restore their press credentials for 14 days.

Kelly found that the outlets were likely to succeed on their claim that their credentials had been revoked without constitutionally adequate due process. The temporary protection is scheduled to expire on October 8.

The news organizations argue that the White House has continued to apply the restrictions inconsistently despite the court order. CNN said it was prevented from participating in White House pool duties, including traveling aboard Air Force One during Trump’s weekend trip to Tennessee. The outlets cited the incident as evidence that the administration has continued to implement the ban unpredictably.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued on September 21, arguing that the White House ban amounted to viewpoint discrimination and violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech and the press.

The Justice Department has defended the restrictions, arguing that the administration acted lawfully and raising national security concerns related to reporting that allegedly disclosed sensitive or classified information. Kelly previously expressed skepticism about the evidence supporting the government’s national security justification.

Trump announced the bans on September 18 while accusing the organizations of publishing “FAKE NEWS” and reporting “FICTION and LIES.”

The dispute adds to ongoing tensions between Trump and major media organizations during his second term. The Trump administration has until Friday to respond to the outlets’ request, with Kelly expected to rule on whether their White House access should remain protected while the lawsuit proceeds.