Poynter is reporting that President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, prompting a federal judge to order their press credentials restored, in what it described as one of the stranger and more disruptive weeks for press freedom in recent memory.
It said U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled early Thursday in favor of the outlets, issuing a 14-day temporary restraining order and directing the White House to immediately return, reinstate and restore their press credentials. Poynter said Kelly focused on the Fifth Amendment, noting the administration did not dispute that the outlets lacked notice and an opportunity to be heard before their hard passes were revoked. The judge also said he was skeptical of national security justifications, writing that Trump instead focused on the outlets' alleged lack of truthfulness and the negativity of their reporting.
Poynter reported that journalists from the three outlets were still barred from White House grounds Thursday morning, and some had their credentials seized, prompting lawyers for the outlets to request an emergency hearing. It said White House press operations director Micah Stopperich responded that badges were restored at 7:25 a.m. and that the Secret Service said they were back on at 9:07 a.m., but The Washington Post reported the timeline did not match what happened, with reporters not regaining entry until around noon. Poynter said Kelly denied the request for an emergency hearing, citing the government's response.
According to Poynter, the dispute unfolded as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the White House. It said CNN's Kaitlan Collins noted Chinese state media was allowed on the grounds while the banned outlets were not, and CNN's Dana Bash said Trump was blocking American media and defying a federal judge instead of showing Xi by example the importance of a free press. Poynter said CNN's Brian Stelter called the situation a symbol of something bigger, describing it as a matter of First Amendment rights that all Americans value.
Poynter also reported that the television pool remained suspended Thursday afternoon, and that CNN and MS NOW said the White House barred their reporters from covering arrivals at a state dinner. It said CNN White House correspondent Kristen Holmes was told her credential covered only a camera and audio, not an editorial presence, and that MS NOW's Laura Barrón-López said she was also stopped from covering Xi's arrival.
Poynter reported that Theodore J. Boutrous, the lead attorney for the outlets, told MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace the administration would likely keep pushing a national security rationale as the case moves to the preliminary injunction stage, but said it would be difficult because Trump repeatedly tied the ban to his objections to their coverage. Poynter said Boutrous called the day a feel-good moment for the First Amendment and for democracy.