A federal judge on Thursday extended a restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s attempt to ban three news outlets from the White House press pool. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump, ruled that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would retain access to the White House complex while their lawsuit over the ban proceeds.
The Justice Department had argued that the ban was justified by national security concerns, but Kelly’s order cited potential violations of due process. The judge noted that the outlets were not given prior notice or an opportunity to respond before losing access. Kelly also described articles cited by the White House as justification for the ban as "routine" and, in some cases, written months earlier. The restraining order requires the White House to reinstate the outlets’ press credentials and access to the complex.
The legal dispute began last month when Trump sought to bar the three outlets from the press pool, accusing them of "fake news" reporting. The outlets filed a lawsuit alleging violations of their First Amendment rights. While Kelly’s temporary order last month restored their access within hours, the White House has continued to restrict CNN and Politico from the Oval Office and Air Force One. Lawyers for the news organizations have urged Kelly to impose a preliminary injunction to prevent further restrictions while the case is ongoing.
The judge’s decision comes as the case moves toward a hearing on whether to grant longer-term relief. The Justice Department and the outlets’ legal teams are scheduled to return to court Thursday to present arguments. The case raises questions about the balance between presidential authority and press freedoms in the White House press corps.