Three outlets sue Trump over ban

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to overturn Trump's ban on their journalists from the White House, which took effect Saturday.

Journalists barred without notice

Reporters from the three outlets were prevented from entering the White House and had their hard passes revoked on Saturday, one day after Trump announced the ban.

Trump accused outlets of lies

Trump said the outlets wrote fiction and lies about him, citing what he called cumulative false stories, and warned other outlets would follow.

“Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow”

Court hearing set for Wednesday

Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, scheduled a videoconference hearing for 3:30 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday on the outlets' request for a temporary restraining order.

Ban violates First Amendment

The lawsuit argues the ban is a direct assault on the First Amendment and has already severely impeded the outlets' ability to cover Trump and his administration.

“This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles”

No process, no warning given

The suit alleges Trump violated the Due Process Clause by revoking credentials without advance notice, an opportunity to respond, or clear standards for his decision.

“No official can deprive Plaintiffs of those interests on a whim, with no notice, no process, and no warning, as the President did here.”

Retaliation for reporting content

The complaint says the ban violates the First Amendment by retaliating against protected newsgathering and speech, and by targeting outlets for their perceived ideology.

Trump shifts to security claim

After the lawsuit was announced, Trump cited national security as a justification for the ban, a reason he had not previously mentioned, without providing examples.

“It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!”

White House defends access decision

The White House said the First Amendment protects outlets' right to publish but not their right to hard passes or briefing room seats, and that access changes are routine.

“The First Amendment protects their right to publish; it does not entitle them to a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool”

CNN removed from pool rotation

The White House removed CNN from its scheduled rotation as the pool television network for Trump's Monday trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Other pools boycott in solidarity

After CNN's removal from the pool schedule, members of the White House television press pool decided not to cover Trump ahead of his trip or in New York.

Judge Kelly ruled for Acosta

In November 2018, Judge Kelly ordered the White House to restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass after it was revoked, a precedent Trump referenced in criticizing the judge.

Trump predicts appeal loss

Trump posted that he expects Judge Kelly to rule against him and said he will appeal, suggesting the judge's prior ruling for CNN influenced his expectation.

“as usual, we'll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown 'sources,' shouldn't be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World.”

AP case set precedent

In April 2025, Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that Trump's partial ban on Associated Press journalists violated the First Amendment, ordering equal access to restricted areas.

“if the Government opens its doors to some journalists, be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere, it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints”

White House abolished wire pool

Rather than comply with McFadden's ruling, the White House abolished the wire pool that included the AP, Bloomberg, and Reuters, which had traveled with presidents for decades.

Appeals court blocked ruling

A three-judge appeals panel blocked McFadden's ruling from taking effect in June 2025 while Trump appealed, and heard arguments in November but has not yet decided.

Press groups support lawsuit

The Knight First Amendment Institute and the White House Correspondents' Association said the ban violates press freedom and the public's right to independent information about government.

“The president's decision to bar them from the White House for the content of their reporting is a flagrant violation of the First Amendment”

Bessent suggests bias justifies ban

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said legacy media is unpopular because of perceived bias and suggested the ban might be lifted if coverage becomes more fair.