Court orders Trump to reopen White House doors to barred journalists

A US federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to restore White House press access for journalists representing CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO.

The ruling came after the court determined that the administration’s decision to bar reporters from the three outlets likely violates the US Constitution, Reuters reports.

US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order in a lawsuit brought by the news organisations, marking a significant legal setback for Trump in his ongoing confrontation with the media. The case challenges a ban announced by the Republican president on September 18.

Under Kelly’s ruling, the Trump administration must immediately reinstate the outlets’ White House press passes, while officials are barred from enforcing the ban for 14 days. The judge also rejected the government’s argument that the restrictions were justified by national security concerns.

“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,” he ​said.

Kelly further noted that Trump himself had linked the decision to what he described as “alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity” in the outlets’ coverage, rather than providing evidence that restoring their access would pose a national security threat.

Neither the White House nor representatives of the three news organisations immediately responded to requests for comment.

Trump had previously argued on social media that the outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES," while lawyers from the Justice Department attempted to defend the administration’s decision by citing national security considerations.

CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO filed the federal lawsuit against Trump and other administration officials in Washington on September 21. The organisations argued that the ban violated the First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as their constitutional due process rights.

The outlets also asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order that would immediately restore their access to the White House while their broader legal challenge moves forward.

The dispute comes just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, when Trump’s fellow Republicans are seeking to maintain their control of Congress. At the same time, Trump’s job approval ratings have fallen to record lows in opinion polls, as concerns over issues including the Iran war and inflation continue to weigh on the political landscape.

By Jeyhun Aghazada