Reporters from CNN and MS NOW made their way back into the White House on Thursday after a federal judge temporarily reinstated their credentials, as well as those of Politico. These credentials had been revoked following a ban announced by President Donald Trump.
Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, stating that the credentials should be returned "immediately." He indicated that the media outlets are likely to prove that their passes were revoked without proper constitutional due process, according to the EFE news agency.
This ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the three media organizations against the Trump administration, citing constitutional rights violations.
Initial Resistance Despite Judicial Ruling
Despite the judicial order, compliance was not immediate. On Thursday morning, reporters from the affected media outlets attempted to enter the White House but were turned away once more. In some instances, Secret Service agents confiscated their press passes, as detailed in a new court filing by the plaintiffs.
The media outlets then requested an emergency hearing, prompting Judge Kelly to require the administration to address the accusations of non-compliance. By noon, journalists began regaining access to the presidential complex.
Backdrop of International Diplomacy
The dispute unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington, a major international event of the day.
The conflict initiated when Trump announced the ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, accusing them of spreading false information. He later clarified that the decision wasn't based on a specific publication but on what he labeled as two years of "unfair and negative" coverage. The Department of Justice argued that the reports from these media outlets had jeopardized national security, a claim that Judge Kelly questioned, noting the government failed to demonstrate how the cited articles caused harm.
Media Solidarity and Previous Legal Precedents
The decision sparked an unusual reaction from other major U.S. media outlets. ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News halted joint coverage in solidarity with the excluded journalists.
Judge Kelly, appointed by Trump in 2017, had previously intervened in a similar case in 2018. He issued a temporary restraining order that forced the White House to restore the credential of then-CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, ruling that Acosta's due process rights were likely violated.
The current order will remain in effect for 14 days while litigation continues on whether the White House can sustain its ban on the three media outlets.
FAQs on the White House Media Ban and Legal Proceedings
What was the reason behind the White House banning these media outlets?
President Trump accused CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of spreading false information and cited two years of "unfair and negative" coverage as the reason for the ban.
How did Judge Timothy Kelly justify the temporary reinstatement of media credentials?
Judge Kelly granted a temporary restraining order, suggesting that the media outlets are likely to demonstrate that their credentials were revoked without a proper constitutional due process.
What was the reaction of other major media outlets to the ban?
In solidarity with the journalists affected by the ban, major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News suspended joint coverage of the White House.