Court blocks Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico

A federal judge has ordered the White House to immediately restore access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that President Donald Trump’s directive barring the three news outlets was most likely unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted a 14-day temporary restraining order early Thursday while the outlets’ legal challenge proceeds. He wrote that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed, at least on the grounds that their credentials were revoked last week without due process.

NBC News reports that Kelly noted Trump did not dispute that the outlets received no notice and no opportunity to be heard before their hard passes were revoked. The judge also rejected the White House’s national security argument, saying it offered little proof.

Trump announced the ban on Truth Social on Friday, citing the outlets’ alleged reporting of “FAKE NEWS!” Kelly wrote that the announcement focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of their reporting.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump had said before Wednesday’s hearing that “as usual, we’ll go for appeal.”