White House Press Ban Blocked as Judge Restores Reporters

The White House press ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico has been halted by a federal court. Reporters from all three outlets walked back onto the White House grounds on Thursday, 24 September, hours after a judge ordered their passes restored.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order shortly after midnight. He found the outlets were likely to show that their due process rights had been violated. The journalists received no prior notice. They had no chance to respond before their hard passes were revoked.

How the White House press ban unfolded

President Donald Trump announced the ban on Friday, 18 September. He accused the three outlets of “FAKE NEWS” reporting. The next morning, their reporters were turned away at the gates. The Secret Service took their credentials.

The outlets sued on Monday. They argued the ban punished coverage the president disliked. CBS News and dozens of other news organisations backed them in a friend-of-the-court brief.

The other four networks in the White House television pool suspended pool coverage in solidarity with CNN. As a result, the major US networks did not broadcast Thursday’s ceremonies for the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Free Thought Daily covered on Thursday.

What the judge said

Judge Kelly was appointed by Mr Trump during his first term. He said he was “skeptical” that national security drove the decision. He noted that some of the stories cited by the White House were routine and months old. He also said one conduct standard used to justify the ban was “so vague it hardly does the trick.”

Even after the order, reporters were refused entry on Thursday morning. Their lawyers went back to court. Access returned around noon, and a further hearing was dropped.

What happens next

The temporary restraining order lasts 14 days. The judge will then decide whether to grant longer-lasting relief. The Justice Department argues that White House access “is a privilege, not a right.” It is expected to appeal.

The case echoes 2018, when the same judge restored CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s pass on similar grounds. The principle at stake is simple. A government may set fair rules for access. It may not quietly punish reporting it dislikes. CBS News has published a detailed account of the ruling.

Fact basis: CBS News, NPR, CNN, The Hill and Euronews reporting of 24–25 September 2026, and Judge Kelly’s published order.