CNN, MS NOW, Politico regain access to White House

On Thursday, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico journalists regained access to the White House following a federal judge's decision that President Donald Trump's ban must be lifted. The ban, imposed on September 18, was contested by the news organizations in a lawsuit. District Judge Tim Kelly, who issued the ruling, stated that the ban was "likely unconstitutional" and ordered it to remain in place for 14 days.

Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney for the outlets, expressed gratitude for the court's swift action, calling it a strong ruling that vindicated freedom of the press, due process, and the rule of law. Kelly rejected the government's claim that national security concerns justified the ban, citing a lack of factual support for the assertion that revoking journalists' passes would protect national security.

He pointed out that President Trump had initially cited "an alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity" in reporting as the reason for the ban. The judge emphasized that Trump himself had stated the banned news outlets had not been given a proper chance to contest the ban. The ban has prompted other media outlets, like DW, to suspend pooled coverage of Trump events in solidarity.

The Justice Department argued that access to the White House is a privilege, not an entitlement, and that the president has the authority to deny access to news organizations. The outlets, however, contended that they were singled out due to the content of their coverage and viewed the ban as a blatant violation of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the United States.