CNN, Politico and MS NOW regained White House access after a federal judge ordered their press passes restored, saying the ban likely violated their constitutional due-process rights. The order bars enforcement of the ban for 14 days; an emergency hearing was canceled.
Trump initially said he barred the outlets over “fake news”; the White House later cited national security. Judge Timothy Kelly noted that Trump had not mentioned security in his initial announcement and said the record lacked factual support for the administration’s claim. The Justice Department had argued the outlets’ coverage threatened national security, citing reports on missile stockpiles, White House ballroom construction and a Republican midterm convention.
Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC had withdrawn from White House broadcast coverage in solidarity but had not confirmed whether they would resume. The dispute curtailed some television coverage while Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a state dinner.
