White House media standoff hangs over Xi visit

Three US media organizations, CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, have requested an urgent court hearing, alleging that the White House has repeatedly breached a judge's order to restore their press access following a dispute with President Donald Trump. Reports emerged on Thursday morning that CNN, Politico, and MS NOW reporters faced denied entry, with some having their credentials seized, while others were granted access.

Judge Timothy Kelly issued a ruling in the early hours of Thursday that Trump's ban on the outlets likely violated their constitutional due process rights, leading to its temporary lifting. Initially, Trump attributed the ban to fake news, but later cited national security concerns. It was uncertain whether the reporters' denial was a result of administrative delays to comply with the judge's order.

The standoff was anticipated to impact television coverage, as Trump was set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a state dinner that morning. CNN reported senior reporter Betsy Klein among those denied entry, though a producer was permitted to enter the premises. Politico's spokesperson stated that one of their reporters was denied access and had press credentials confiscated, while another producer was allowed in.

MS NOW informed that its White House reporter Laura Barrón-López and a producer were barred from the White House, with their passes taken, but another producer was granted entry. The White House has not yet commented on the ruling, and the president's legal team might pursue further legal action.