# CNN MS NOW Journalists Return to White House > CNN and MS NOW journalists regain White House access after federal judge orders Trump to lift ban. - Title: CNN MS NOW Journalists Return to White House · ABC7 New York - Summary: CNN and MS NOW journalists regain White House access after federal judge orders Trump to lift ban. A federal judge ordered Trump to lift a ban on CNN, MS NOW… - Keywords: cnn, ms now, politico, white house, donald trump, federal judge, first amendment, u.s. district court, press access, national security, media ban, white house pool - Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/story/reporters-blocked-white-house-despite-orders-restore-access-cnn-ms-now-politico/19865810 - Published: 2026-09-24T14:47:01+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: cnn, ms now, politico, white house, donald trump, federal judge, first amendment, u.s. district court, press access, national security, media ban, white house pool ## Journalists back at White House CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists returned to White House grounds Thursday afternoon after federal judge ordered Trump to lift ban. > hours after a federal judge ordered President Donald Trump to lift a ban ## Judge orders access restored U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled White House must immediately return and restore access to the three outlets. > immediately return, reinstate, and restore ## Ban rationale challenged Trump claimed outlets' reporting was a risk to national security, but judge found no evidence of national security threats. > Nothing in the record ... suggests that the revocation of Plaintiffs' hard passes was motivated by national security concerns ## First Amendment violation Outlets argued ban violated First Amendment as it singled them out for content of reporting. > blatant violation of the First Amendment ## Judge's legal reasoning Kelly stated outlets met legal thresholds for temporary restraining order and were likely to succeed in showing due process violations. > This is a high bar, but Plaintiffs have met it ## Administration's defense White House claimed access to White House is a privilege, not a right, and national security concerns justify restrictions. > Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right ## Specific reporting incidents Administration cited incidents including CNN reporting on East Wing bunker construction and Politico publishing White House ballroom funding details. > CNN reporting on 'top-secret' construction details related to the East Wing bunker ## Media pool suspension Major networks suspended coverage of Trump at pool events pending White House access restoration. > The U.S. network press pool, consisting of the five major networks, including CNN, has suspended coverage of Trump pool events ## Legal battle details Attorneys debated whether ban constituted viewpoint discrimination or legitimate security concerns. > We’re at war. We have world leaders coming to Washington ## Ruling impact Judge's order reinstates access but does not address rotating media pool coverage issues. > The ruling did not address that rotating pool ## Key takeaway A federal judge ordered Trump to lift a ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from the White House, restoring their access hours after the ruling.