Story perspectives

Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Ban on CNN, Restores Passes

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 11:56 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Kelly ordered the outlets’ White House press passes restored for fourteen days.
He said the ban likely violated the First Amendment.
He noted the administration gave no prior notice or chance to contest.
Kelly described the administration’s national-security claim as unsupported by the record.

Summary

Trump Bans CNN

President Donald Trump told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins she should not cover him at the United Nations.
Over a dozen outlets and journalist groups condemned the ban as a dangerous precedent.
NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and Gray TV declined the White House offer to replace CNN.
Photographers withheld Trump images, citing a press-room sign supporting AP, CNN, MS NOW, Politico.

History

Historical Context

In 1971, the Supreme Court’s New York Times Co. v. United States decision rejected the Nixon administration’s attempt to block the Pentagon Papers. The Court ruled 6-3, noting that the 2,000-page classified study revealed government deception about Vietnam and emphasized that restraint posed a threat to discourse. Similarly, in 2020 Judge Timothy Kelly halted President Trump’s abrupt revocation of White House press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The precedent underscores that courts will likely deem executive media bans unconstitutional, preserving journalistic access and deterring future administrations from imposing similar restrictions.

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Story summary

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Kelly ordered the outlets’ White House press passes restored for fourteen days.
He said the ban likely violated the First Amendment.
He noted the administration gave no prior notice or chance to contest.
Kelly described the administration’s national-security claim as unsupported by the record.

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