News outlets amend lawsuit alleging Trump White House is still blocking press access
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have widened their legal challenge, arguing that the Trump administration continues to bar them from the Oval Office and Air Force One in a blatant violation of constitutional press protections.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed an amended lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s White House, arguing that the administration continues to push them out of the press pool, Oval Office and Air Force One trips. The complaint says that once the White House opens these spaces to selected journalists, it cannot then discriminate against outlets because of their coverage, citing violations of the First and Fifth Amendments.
The filing asks the court to declare the President’s ban and the later exclusions unlawful and seeks permanent injunctive relief for the three outlets. The request follows a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy P. Kelly, which restored the outlets’ White House access after finding the original ban likely discriminatory.
Outside counsel Ted Boutrous warned the administration that more legal action would follow if the exclusions continued, and asked for confirmation that the White House would abandon any policy of excluding CNN from the Oval Office and Air Force One. The administration has not responded to the request.
According to the amended complaint, CNN has been barred from Air Force One on all six occasions it was scheduled to serve as the designated TV pooler since the ban was announced on September 18. Politico has missed two out-of-town pool assignments, and MS NOW has not participated in the secondary television pool since that date.
A White House official, when asked for comment, said, "the Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President’s Oval Office." The administration complied with Judge Kelly’s order and reinstated press credentials late last month, but the outlets say the continued exclusions amount to retaliation.
The lawsuit also references a related case involving The Associated Press, which challenged a separate restriction on press access. An appeals court panel partially lifted a stay in that case, noting that restricted presidential spaces are not traditional First Amendment forums, though the ruling was non-binding.
Boutrous said the exclusions are meant to punish and chill coverage the President does not favor, making it harder for the press to report on significant events for the public benefit. He added that the three outlets will continue to pursue their rights in court.