Judge orders White House to restore access to news outlets Trump banned
A U.S. federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to restore press access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The outlets had been banned by President Trump, who cited 'fake news' as the reason for the exclusion.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores the legal protections for media access to the White House and the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the press.
A federal judge early on Thursday (September 24, 2026) temporarily blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's move to ban three news outlets from the White House grounds and said CNN , MS NOW and Politico must have their access restored.
It's the latest development in an escalating showdown between President Donald Trump and media outlets whose coverage he dislikes. Mr. Trump announced he was banning the outlets on September 18, assailing what he called “fake news.” More recently, the president has said negative coverage was dangerous for the country.
The outlets argued they were singled out because of the content of their coverage — in other words, viewpoint discrimination — and called the ban a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment.
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