# DOJ defends Trump's ban of three news outlets

> The Justice Department argues the President has the right to exclude media from the White House over national security concerns.
- Title: DOJ defends Trump's ban of three news outlets · CNBC
- Summary: The Justice Department argues the President has the right to exclude media from the White House over national security concerns. The DOJ told a federal judge…
- Keywords: donald trump, department of justice, white house, cnn, ms now, politico, first amendment, national security, timothy kelly, media ban, business, finance
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/23/trump-white-house-ban-media-doj-cnn-msnow-politico.html
- Author: Dan Mangan
- Published: 2026-09-23T05:49:57+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, department of justice, white house, cnn, ms now, politico, first amendment, national security, timothy kelly, media ban, business, finance
## Trump bans three news outlets
President Donald Trump summarily banned MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House on Friday, September eighteenth, twenty twenty-six.
## DOJ defends the ban in court
The Department of Justice urged a federal judge not to block the ban, filing arguments late Tuesday evening ahead of a Wednesday hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
## Access is a privilege, not a right
The DOJ told Judge Timothy Kelly that White House access is a privilege, not a right, and Trump has no obligation to grant it to news organizations.

> Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.
## National security justification cited
The DOJ said Trump was motivated by concerns about national security, claiming the three outlets reported classified or sensitive information bearing on national security matters.
## Outlets claim viewpoint discrimination
The media outlets filed a lawsuit Monday arguing Trump's ban was motivated by viewpoint discrimination, targeting them for their perceived ideology, opinion or perspective rather than security.
## Outlets get chance to respond
The DOJ gave each outlet letters dated Tuesday with a chance to contest the ban and its factual basis. They must submit responses by five p.m. on Friday, September twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-six.

> Plaintiffs may submit any response by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 25, 2026.
## Key takeaway

The DOJ told a federal judge that Trump's ban of MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House is legal, citing national security risks and arguing access is a privilege, not a right.