CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction to maintain their White House access pending resolution of their lawsuit against the Trump administration’s ban on the outlets, which took effect on September 19.
The three news organizations argued in their filing that the administration has “persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban” despite a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly that expires on October 8. The outlets’ legal team characterized the ban as unlawful and said it would cause irreparable harm to the news organizations and the public. Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., the lead attorney for the outlets, described the ban as “a blatant violation of the First Amendment and due process” and alleged that it constitutes retaliation and viewpoint discrimination.
The Trump administration has defended the ban, with Attorney General Todd Blanche stating on television that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a right. Blanche cited concerns about “misinformation” from certain outlets, characterizing such coverage as a national security issue. In his ruling granting the temporary restraining order, however, Judge Kelly expressed skepticism about whether national security concerns were the actual motivation for the access restrictions.
The dispute has extended to the White House broadcast pool rotation, which includes CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News. According to the filing, CNN was barred from its designated pool duties on September 26 and was excluded from covering the president aboard Air Force One during a trip to Tennessee on Saturday, with no replacement network designated. In solidarity with CNN, the other major networks suspended pool coverage after the initial ban, though they have since agreed to handle ongoing situations on a case-by-case basis.
The legal battle represents the latest development in a broader conflict between the Trump administration and news media organizations during his second term, involving multiple lawsuits and First Amendment questions.
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