Judge extends White House access for CNN, MS NOW, Politico amid legal fight

President Donald Trump imposed a social media ban in September, alleging that certain news organizations, including CNN, MSNBC and Politico, were publishing false and misleading information about him. A federal judge, Timothy Kelly, has now extended the journalists' access to the White House grounds, ruling that Trump likely violated their constitutional rights by attempting to ban them.

The decision comes amidst a broader dispute over press freedom, with the news organizations and press freedom groups arguing that Trump's actions constitute unconstitutional retaliation for unfavorable coverage. The preliminary injunction issued by Kelly will remain in effect until a final ruling is made in the lawsuit filed by the news organizations, unless an appeals court intervenes.

Trump's campaign against the media has been unprecedented, with the president denying access to many major news organizations, making personal attacks on journalists, and elevating pro-administration media outlets. The Justice Department has defended the ban, claiming it is legally justified for national security reasons, while the news organizations maintain that the revocation of their White House passes was unlawful retaliation for their coverage and accused the administration of manufacturing national security concerns to justify the ban.