14.10.2026 12:01
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the Donald Trump administration's decision blocking CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters' access to the White House "probably" violated freedom of expression and the press. Kelly decided that reporters from these organizations should be granted access to the White House until the case concludes. Trump had previously stated that the Department of Justice would appeal against a possible adverse ruling.
A federal court in the US granted the media organizations' request for a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit filed against the White House's ban on entry for 3 media organizations. Judge Kelly concluded that the ban was a “retaliation” against the organizations' news coverage.
“LIKELY VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT”
Judge Timothy Kelly, who serves on the federal district court in Washington, D.C., and was appointed by Trump in 2017, stated in his ruling on Tuesday, October 13, that the press ban likely violated the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. Kelly stated that removing reporters' access without granting them due process could also violate the Fifth Amendment, which provides legal safeguards.
The ruling text noted that the statements Trump used while announcing the ban showed a direct link between the media organizations' constitutionally protected activities and the revocation of their press passes.
“BANNED THEM BECAUSE HE FOUND THEIR NEWS FALSE AND BIASED”
Stating that Trump's words proved the ban was retaliation against freedom of expression, Kelly assessed, “President Trump likely banned the plaintiffs from the White House because he believed their news coverage was generally false and biased against him.”
Kelly also emphasized that revoking press passes was “the kind of action that would deter a reasonable reporter or news organization from publishing news.”
“NATIONAL SECURITY” JUSTIFICATION REJECTED
The Trump administration had argued in court that the organizations in question violated journalistic standards and published news that threatened national security. The administration had submitted to the court a list of news reports it claimed “threatened national security and/or spread falsehoods.”
Judge Kelly, however, stated that there was no evidence the ban was initially imposed on national security grounds. Kelly noted that Trump did not mention national security when announcing the ban, and used that phrase in later posts to criticize the organizations' news coverage.
THE BAN WAS ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 18
In a post on his social media account on September 18, Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were “immediately banned” from the White House, citing as a reason that the organizations engaged in “constant fake news.” The next day, reporters who came to the White House were not allowed in, and their press passes were collected by the Secret Service. Trump warned that the restrictions could also cover other media organizations.
The 3 organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court on September 21, arguing that the ban violated the First and Fifth Amendments. In a temporary ruling issued on September 24, Judge Kelly ordered that the press passes be returned until October 8. However, it was reported that some CNN and Politico employees were still not admitted to the White House despite this ruling.
TRUMP HAD SIGNALED AN APPEAL
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that if Kelly ruled against them, the Department of Justice would appeal the decision. The White House has not yet made a statement regarding the latest ruling.
The media organizations' lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, described the temporary ruling in September as a strong victory for press freedom, the rule of law, and the right to a fair trial.