CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued President Trump, asking a federal judge to restore their White House press credentials after he barred them for unfavorable coverage.
Three major news outlets—CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and Politico—filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to have their White House press credentials reinstated after President Trump barred their reporters from covering official events. The outlets asked Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, to order the administration to return the credentials.
The plaintiffs allege violations of the First Amendment right to free press and the Fifth Amendment right to due process. Lead attorney Theodore J. Boutrous of Gibson Dunn said the ban is intended to punish reporting the president dislikes and to intimidate journalists, harming the public’s right to fact‑based coverage.
Trump justified the ban on his Truth Social account, claiming he will not allow “Fake News people” who write negatively about him into the White House. The filing references a 2018 decision by Judge Kelly that favored CNN reporter Jim Acosta when his permanent White House credentials were stripped, suggesting precedent for the current claim.
The case will determine how far the president can restrict access to the White House press pool. No ruling has been issued, and the outcome remains uncertain.