CNN, MS NOW, Politico ask judge to extend block on White House ban

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico approached a federal judge on Monday to secure a court order that would protect their access to the White House while they contest President Donald Trump's decision to ban them due to unfavorable coverage. The news organizations sought a preliminary injunction from a Washington, DC federal court judge blocking Trump's bans until a final ruling is made in their case.

Judge Timothy Kelly had previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order, deeming the bans potentially unlawful and in violation of the news outlets' rights to fair legal treatment. The outlets contended that Trump's bans constituted viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment, which guarantees free speech and free press rights.

In their September 21 lawsuit, the outlets claimed Trump's bans were unlawful and discriminatory based on their viewpoints. The Justice Department argued that Trump had lawfully banned the outlets after concluding that their coverage posed a threat to national security by disclosing classified information. Trump retorted in a September 18 social media post, stating he was banning the outlets for reporting "FAKE NEWS" and insisting they should not be permitted to continuously publish fiction and lies.

The spat between Trump and the media intensified in his second term, with the president personally suing outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BBC for defamation.