White House Blocks CNN, Politico, MS NOW Reporters After Court Order

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order directing the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, Politico and MS NOW and to respond by 12:30 p.m. to the outlets’ filings. Despite the order, journalists from all three organizations reported being turned away by Secret Service agents when they attempted to enter the White House complex. MS NOW reporter Laura Barrón-López described being stopped at the security checkpoint, her badge flashing red and later being confiscated. CNN’s Betsy Klein and a photojournalist were likewise denied entry, and the outlets have asked the court for an emergency hearing.

Newsweek

The administration’s revocation of the three outlets’ credentials follows earlier disputes in which President Donald Trump removed press passes for CNN’s Jim Acosta in 2018 and for NBC’s Brian Karem in 2019—both cases later ruled against the president. In the current episode, the White House initially justified the ban by claiming the outlets posed a national-security risk, a rationale the judge found unsupported.

Newsweek

The White House defended the action in a letter, accusing Politico of violating professional standards by publishing material based on anonymous sources. Judge Kelly noted that the administration’s national-security argument was a post-hoc justification, emphasizing that the president’s earlier criticism of the outlets’ coverage was the true motive.

Newsweek

Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner warned that the president’s conduct amounts to “viewpoint discrimination” and may require the judge to explain the prohibitions in elementary terms. Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, called the White House’s defiance “the back of the hand” and urged that officials who continue to deny access be held in contempt.

Newsweek

• “This is Donald Trump playing games, unconstitutional games, pretending to comply, pulling back and defying,” — Glenn Kirschner

Raw Story

• “I made it past the first perimeter fencing that has Secret Service... then I went to the press pass security hut and again made it through the gate.” — Laura Barrón-López, MS NOW reporter

Newsweek

• “And time is of the essence—CNN is scheduled to be the television pool this evening for President Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House.” — Seth Stern, the chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation

Newsweek

• “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” — Donald Trump, out for president

Newsweek