The White House is at the centre of a legal dispute over access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists.
A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that officials revoked the outlets’ press credentials without providing constitutionally adequate due process.
Kelly issued a temporary restraining order shortly before 1 a.m. on September 24. The order requires the administration to reinstate access immediately and keep it in place for 14 days while the case moves forward.
Despite the ruling, some journalists initially encountered problems entering the White House complex. The news organisations later sought an emergency hearing after authorities turned reporters away at Secret Service checkpoints.
By Thursday afternoon, journalists from all three outlets had regained access to the White House grounds.
Access dispute during Xi visit
The dispute unfolded during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
The visit included an arrival ceremony and a state dinner at the White House.
The White House announced that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump would welcome Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on September 24.
CNN said officials blocked two of its journalists from covering Xi’s arrival for the state dinner despite the court order.
MS NOW also reported that its journalists could not attend the arrival event in person.
The developments raised questions about how the administration was implementing the judge’s order while the legal challenge continued.
Television pool coverage disrupted
The restrictions also affected the White House television pool system.
Under that arrangement, major US networks rotate responsibility for providing shared video coverage of official events.
Officials removed CNN from the rotation.
Other networks declined to fill the role. As a result, no major American television network provided live coverage of Xi’s arrival ceremony.
Trump later criticised CNN and MS NOW on Truth Social. He accused the networks of choosing not to air the event.
CNN rejected that claim. The network said authorities prevented its journalists from attending in person.
CNN also stated that both networks carried coverage through their digital platforms.
The disagreement expanded beyond access to the White House. It also became a dispute over why viewers did not see the usual television coverage.
Wider legal challenge remains open
The White House press office has defended its decision to restrict access.
Officials accused CNN, MS NOW and Politico of publishing information they considered false or sensitive.
The three outlets dispute those allegations. The issue now forms part of the broader legal battle over their credentials.
Kelly’s ruling addresses the immediate access dispute. However, it does not resolve the wider case.
The court must still determine when an administration can limit or revoke White House press access.
For now, the three organisations can continue covering White House events under a court order that remains in effect for 14 days.
