White House bars media outlets despite judge’s order to restore access

The White House maintained its ban on journalists from three media outlets on Thursday, despite a federal judge's order to reinstate their press credentials. The District Court in Washington ruled that CNN, MSNBC, and Politico should "immediately return, reinstate, and restore" their press passes, with the order serving as a temporary measure while litigation continues.

Last week, major American television networks halted their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump following the White House's decision to bar the three outlets from the grounds. Trump alleged that the outlets deliberately publish unfavorable news about his administration. During the legal proceedings, attorneys contended that the restriction was required to safeguard national security.

On Monday, the outlets filed a lawsuit against the administration. The judge found the media outlets likely to succeed in their claim that the ban infringed upon their First Amendment rights, which guarantees freedom of the press. The judge also determined that the White House did not provide adequate advance notice. However, Politico and MSNBC reported on Thursday morning that their reporters were denied access to the White House.

The White House had no immediate response. This move marks the latest escalation in Trump's ongoing and contentious relationship with the media. On Thursday, he was set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a reciprocal state visit. It remains uncertain if the pool media will carry out its duties as usual. Trump has a history of criticizing news organizations for coverage he considers unfavorable, labeling them "fake news."

Last year, he barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other areas after the news agency stated it would continue to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by that name, instead of changing it to the Gulf of America following an executive order from Trump.