White House Ignores Court Order, Bars Journalists Again

White House ignores court order and continued to bar journalists from Politico, CNN and MS NOW on Thursday, September 24, 2026, despite a federal judge's 14-day temporary restraining order requiring their immediate readmission. Reporters were turned away at the White House entrance, and at least one press pass was confiscated by Secret Service agents, escalating a constitutional standoff over press freedom.

What happened at the White House on Thursday?

U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued the temporary restraining order late Wednesday, ruling that the Trump administration "likely violated" the outlets' Fifth Amendment due process rights when it revoked their hard passes. He directed the White House to "immediately" restore access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. Yet on Thursday morning, the administration appeared to defy that order.

A Politico reporter was denied entry and had his press credential confiscated at the gate. CNN correspondent Betsy Klein and a photojournalist were also refused after multiple attempts, with no reason given. Other CNN staff members were allowed inside, suggesting selective enforcement. "CNN will continue to try to get access," the network said in a statement. The three outlets filed an emergency request with the court, accusing the White House of "repeatedly violating" the order.

Why were Politico, CNN and MS NOW banned?

President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the three media organizations would be barred from the White House, accusing them of spreading "fake news" and writing negative coverage about him. He provided no concrete examples. The ban took effect Saturday, September 19, 2026, when journalists' credentials were revoked.

The outlets sued, arguing the move was unconstitutional retaliation and viewpoint discrimination. Judge Kelly rejected the administration's national-security justification, noting that Trump had cited "fake news" and negative stories rather than security concerns. The court found the outlets were "likely to succeed" in showing their hard passes were revoked without constitutionally adequate due process.

Court order vs. White House defiance

The temporary restraining order lasts at least two weeks and is generally not appealable, but the administration has vowed to challenge it. Lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico alerted the judge to the non-compliance and requested an immediate hearing; Kelly ordered the Justice Department to respond by 12:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.

This case is the latest chapter in the Trump administration's press access fight. Since last year, the White House has barred journalists from the Associated Press because the wire service did not adopt Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." Trump has also regularly attacked journalists personally, particularly women.

Media solidarity and press freedom implications

The barring of journalists triggered widespread condemnation. Major U.S. networks—including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC—issued a rare joint statement defending press freedom, and 49 media organizations filed a brief supporting the three outlets. Some networks aired a Trump press conference without audio as a show of solidarity.

The denials came as the White House prepared for a state visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping later on Thursday. While many White House grounds events were open to the press, the leaders' joint press conference was restricted to the smaller "press pool," further limiting coverage.

Key facts at a glance

• Order: 14-day temporary restraining order by Judge Timothy J. Kelly
• Outlets affected: Politico, CNN, MS NOW
• Date of denial: Thursday, September 24, 2026
• White House response: Continued refusal, credential confiscation
• Context: State visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping

Legal analysts say the White House's apparent defiance could lead to contempt proceedings, though enforcement against the executive branch is complex. The First Amendment press freedom precedent set in this case may influence how future administrations manage White House press credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the White House ban Politico, CNN and MS NOW?

President Trump accused the three outlets of spreading "fake news" and writing negative stories about him, without providing specific examples. The administration later cited national security, but the court rejected that justification.

What did the court order say?

Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to "immediately" restore press access for the three outlets, ruling the ban likely violated Fifth Amendment due process rights.

Did the White House comply with the order?

No. On Thursday, September 24, 2026, journalists were still denied entry, and at least one press pass was confiscated by Secret Service agents, prompting an emergency court filing.

How long does the temporary order last?

The order lasts at least two weeks. Temporary restraining orders are generally not appealable, and the court will schedule expedited briefing on a preliminary injunction.

What is the broader context of this media dispute?

The ban is part of a longer-running clash between the Trump administration and media organizations, including the Associated Press, which was barred over the "Gulf of America" naming dispute.