US judge blocks Trump’s White House media ban

A federal judge in Washington has ordered US President Donald Trump to restore access for journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico to the White House. The judge dismissed the Trump administration's claim that the ban was justified by national security concerns, stating there was insufficient evidence to support this argument. The decision comes after the three news organizations filed a lawsuit, contending that the ban violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press, as well as their due process rights.

The judge also noted that the administration had not provided the outlets with a fair opportunity to contest the revocation of their access. This ruling is seen as a significant setback for Trump, who had banned the outlets on September 18, citing their alleged lack of truthfulness and negative reporting. The legal battle has taken place just weeks before the November midterm elections, during which Trump's Republican allies are seeking to maintain control of Congress.