By: Haliya Jooda
On Oct. 2, the White House filed a court filing, arguing that its move last month to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from its grounds was squarely within the bounds of presidential authority and asked a federal judge to deny a motion from the media outlets for a court order extending their access, according to the New York Times (NYT).
The government’s filing on Friday said the “decision to deny special, privileged access to the press pool or to the White House complex would not deter a reasonable reporter.”
This all comes in response to CNN, MS NOW (former name: MSNBC), and Politico being banned from the White House by the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump on Sept. 18.
“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW, and Politico…from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” wrote Trump on Truth Social.
On Sept. 19, when MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner, CNN reporter Betsy Klein, and Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett reported to the White House for work, they were denied entry, with credentials confiscated or denied, according to NBC News,
Afterward, each network released a statement condemning the ban.
“MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalists in our democracy,” said the network in a post on X.
CNN called the ban “an illegal assault” on its constitutional rights, while Politico said it would “vigorously defend” its journalists and its First Amendment rights.
On Sept. 21, the three outlets moved to file a joint lawsuit against President Trump and his administration, stating that the ban violated the First Amendment and should be revoked immediately.
“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting, left unchallenged; this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” wrote the news outlets in a joint statement on Sept. 21.
Ahead of the ruling on Sept. 23, more than 50 media organizations signed an amicus brief, an unusual display of solidarity across the industry in calling for the immediate reversal of the media ban, according to Politico. These organizations included Fox News, the NYT, the Associated Press, and many more. It was also signed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the White House Correspondents’ Association.
In response to the lawsuit, President Trump denied accusations of trying to limit free speech on Truth Social.
“The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America,” wrote Trump. “It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!”
US Vice President J.D. Vance supported the president’s decision to ban the news outlet, telling reporters on Sept. 21 that it was “totally appropriate” and that the outlets are “far-left propaganda.”
The outlets filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington, with the case assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee.
Judge Kelly ruled on Sep. 24 that the White House had not given the outlets proper notice of the ban and issued a two-week order (set to expire on Oct. 8) restoring their access to the White House grounds.
He ordered that the White House “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the press credentials held by employees of the three outlets.
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were then allowed back at the White House to begin reporting. However, on the morning of Sept. 24, reporters from all three news outlets were still barred from entering the White House, according to NBC News.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico filed a notice of noncompliance after their reporters were denied access, and they asked Kelly to set an immediate hearing, according to MS NOW.
Judge Kelly then ordered the administration to respond in writing by 12:30 p.m. after journalists from the outlets were still turned away. After receiving a filing from White House Press Operations director Micah Stopperich, the judge denied the news organizations’ request for an emergency hearing.
It was not made clear why the journalists were initially still barred from entering. The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment, according to the news outlet.
In the administration’s court filing shortly before the assigned deadline, Stopperich presented a timeline of the administration’s activity to reinstate the journalists’ access.
Stopperich said her team was told shortly after 7 a.m. to restore access “to affected reporters by turning on their hard badges” and that soon after, it began to do so. The Secret Service indicated shortly after 9 a.m. that the journalists’ passes were “back on” and that they were dropped off at the entry gate for pickup within the hour, according to CNN.
In the evening of the same day, the White House denied two CNN journalists from covering Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s arrival back at the White House for a state dinner, according to CNN. MS NOW was banned shortly after, reported Forbes.
President Trump had a different view on the ban.
“CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping, and his beautiful wife, Madam Peng,” wrote Trump on Truth Social. “The event was magnificent — Actually made for Television but, because they’re Fake News, and because they knew how good it would be, they didn’t want credit to be given to ‘TRUMP,’ they refused to be there.”