Trump’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS Now likely unconstitutional, judge rules in restoring temporary access
Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog.
We start now with breaking news from the late night hours: a federal judge has temporarily restored White House access to journalists from CNN, Politico and MS Now after president Donald Trump banned them due to their coverage of his administration.
US district judge Tim Kelly issued his order in a lawsuit that the news organizations filed contesting the ban that the president announced on 18 September, saying it was likely unconstitutional.
Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the outlets’ press passes and issued a temporary restraining order that will be in effect for 14 days. Such orders are typically designed to preserve the status quo pending a closer review of the case by the court.
In other news today:
Key events
Donald Trump has been raging about a story first reported by MS Now on Wednesday that he is seeking to rename the Ford Theatre in Washington DC, a site infamous for the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln, after himself.
Last night he posted on Truth Social about the news item, blaming “Dumocrats” for the “ridiculous lie.”
This morning, hours after the late night ruling from the judge that temporarily reinstated CNN, Politico, and MS Now, Trump (again) said:
The Dumocrats make up lie after lie. The new one is that I want Ford’s Theater named after me. That’s where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Who would want that? I don’t! It is FAKE NEWS started by MSDNC AND CNN.
This is his first mention of the day of his lesser-favored media outlets. He has not acknowledged the judge’s ruling to restore them access to the White House – yet. We’ll bring you more lines as they come in.
Some more background information on this ongoing situation between the Trump administration and the White House press correspondents:
The three outlets sued Trump and other members of his administration in federal court in Washington on Monday, saying the ban violated the US constitution’s first amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as their due process rights. They requested a temporary restraining order that would immediately reinstate their White House access while their legal challenge plays out.
Trump had said on social media that the three outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES,” and justice department lawyers had sought to justify the ban on national security grounds.
A Justice Department lawyer told the judge the Trump administration provided a sufficient explanation for the revocation of the press passes in letters sent to the news outlets on Tuesday. But the judge signaled skepticism of that argument, noting that the letters were sent after the revocation occurred and the lawsuit was filed.
In a legal filing on Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that access to the White House is a privilege, not an entitlement, and that the president has the authority to suspend access by news organizations.
Trump’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS Now likely unconstitutional, judge rules in restoring temporary access
Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog.
We start now with breaking news from the late night hours: a federal judge has temporarily restored White House access to journalists from CNN, Politico and MS Now after president Donald Trump banned them due to their coverage of his administration.
US district judge Tim Kelly issued his order in a lawsuit that the news organizations filed contesting the ban that the president announced on 18 September, saying it was likely unconstitutional.
Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the outlets’ press passes and issued a temporary restraining order that will be in effect for 14 days. Such orders are typically designed to preserve the status quo pending a closer review of the case by the court.
In other news today:
