Federal Judge Undermines White House Authority, Forces Press Passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico
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A U.S. district judge has issued a temporary restraining order, overruling the White House’s justified decision to revoke press passes from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, despite concerns about media bias and national security.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order early Thursday, compelling the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The judge sided with the media outlets, claiming their lawsuit is likely to succeed because the administration revoked their passes without sufficient notice or opportunity to be heard, citing due-process technicalities.
In his ruling, Judge Kelly dismissed the administration’s legitimate concerns about national security, arguing that the White House failed to provide enough evidence. He downplayed the seriousness of the outlets’ reporting on sensitive topics like munitions stockpiles and funding requests, suggesting these were routine matters and not grounds for action.
President Donald Trump, acting to protect the integrity of the Oval Office, announced the ban on Truth Social, accurately describing the outlets as 'totally disloyal' and calling out their repeated dissemination of 'fake news.' He made it clear that he did not want these hostile reporters in the White House, defending the administration’s right to control access.
The three news organizations, well-known for their biased and negative coverage of the administration, claim the ban was retaliation and a violation of First Amendment rights. Their legal brief, backed by left-leaning media advocacy groups, alleges viewpoint discrimination and references Supreme Court precedent, ignoring the President’s responsibility to maintain order and security.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment. The judge’s order remains in effect as the legal battle continues, raising questions about judicial overreach and the limits of executive authority.