In a significant legal blow to the Donald Trump administration, a US federal judge has mandated the restoration of White House press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The order, issued by US District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday, September 24, 2026, revives a contentious dispute over press freedom and the First Amendment.
The three news organizations had filed a lawsuit after the White House revoked their access, arguing that the decision infringed upon their First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their Fifth Amendment due process rights. The administration had previously justified the ban by accusing the outlets of publishing what President Trump described as “FICTION and LIES” about his presidency.
Administration's Justification Questioned
The White House, represented by the US Justice Department, contended that the outlets had violated standards of professionalism and decorum, and in some instances, published sensitive or classified information. They further argued that access to the White House was a privilege, not a constitutional right, and cited national security concerns.
However, Judge Kelly, a Trump appointee, expressed skepticism regarding the administration's claims during Wednesday's hearing. He questioned the lack of factual support for the assertion that revoking credentials would protect national security, especially given the President's public statements attributing the ban to the outlets' perceived lack of truthfulness and negative reporting.
"The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds," Judge Kelly stated, adding that Trump himself had stated the ban was due to "alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity" of the outlets' reporting.
The judge highlighted established legal precedents, including the 1977 case Sherrill v. Knight, which affirm that while the White House is not obligated to grant access to all journalists, it cannot selectively exclude reporters based on their viewpoint or without proper procedure. He also noted that the White House had only provided letters explaining its objections after the journalists' credentials had already been revoked, failing to provide adequate notice or opportunity to challenge the withdrawal.
Wider Implications and Previous Standoffs
This ruling echoes a similar decision in 2018 when Judge Kelly ordered the White House to reinstate CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials after they were revoked following a confrontation with President Trump.
The recent ban had led to a wider standoff between the administration and the media. Earlier in the week, major television networks suspended coverage of the US President in solidarity with CNN after it was removed from the White House television pool. This disruption led to some presidential events, such as a new helipad launch, lacking the usual shared television coverage. Concurrently, the White House launched 'Trump TV', a 24-hour online streaming service featuring administration videos and speeches, further indicating a shift in its media strategy.