Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House; Networks Sue

President Donald Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House on September 20, accusing them of unfair coverage. The three outlets filed a federal lawsuit Monday morning in Washington, D.C., seeking to restore their journalists’ credentials and access. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and The Washington Post announced they would not participate in White House pool coverage in response, blocking live footage of presidential events.

The ban and the lawsuit

Trump announced the ban Friday, saying the three outlets had written “fiction and lies” about him and warned other outlets could follow. Journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were prevented from entering the White House on Saturday and had their credentials revoked without notice. The three organizations filed suit Monday morning, arguing the ban violates their First Amendment rights and Fifth Amendment due process protections. The lawsuit states the ban is “a direct assault on the First Amendment” and was imposed “with no notice, no process, and no warning.” Lead attorney Theodore J. Boutros of Gibson Dunn told NPR that legal precedents “overwhelmingly support” the news organizations’ case.

Networks halt pool coverage in solidarity

The five major television networks announced they would not replace CNN’s assigned White House pool duties Monday. Under a longstanding arrangement, these networks take turns filming the president and sharing footage with one another and the wider press corps. Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton, who chairs the pool, wrote that “there will be no replacement pool put in place.” The Washington Post, New York Times, and HuffPost also announced they would not publish White House photographs Monday in protest. During Trump’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new White House helipad Monday, his remarks were inaudible because the pool’s microphone was absent and helicopter noise drowned out his voice.

Court hearing set for Wednesday

Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Department of Justice to respond to the outlets’ request for a temporary restraining order by Tuesday. Kelly scheduled a videoconference hearing for 3:30 p.m. ET Wednesday to hear arguments on whether the ban should be blocked. Kelly was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2017. The outlets are asking the court to act immediately to restore their journalists’ White House access.

Trump defends the action

Trump posted on Truth Social that the White House is “not instituting an assault on the Free Press” but rather “an assault on the FAKE NEWS.” He called the coverage “corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control” and claimed it is “a threat to our National Security.” Trump said last Friday that he might add other outlets to the ban list. The White House announced the creation of “Trump TV” on Monday afternoon but provided no details on what the service would include or how it would operate.

Final Thoughts

The case hinges on whether the government can revoke press credentials without notice or due process. A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday. The outcome will shape press access rules for the remainder of Trump’s term.

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