# Court Orders White House to Reinstate CNN, Politico Press Access Judge blocks Trump's media ban, citing constitutional violations. - **Source:** [TIME](https://time.com/) - **Published:** 2026-09-24 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/92985b40-0913-48a8-ab71-1f833b84573e ## Federal judge intervenes Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order against President Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico journalists. The ruling stated the ban likely violated the outlets' Fifth Amendment due process rights. Kelly ordered immediate reinstatement of White House press passes until further court action. This marks a significant legal setback for the Trump administration's attempt to control media access. ## Constitutional arguments prevail The judge found the media outlets demonstrated likelihood of success on their Fifth Amendment claim. Kelly rejected the administration's national security justification, noting Trump's public statements focused on alleged "fake news" reporting instead. The Fifth Amendment protects against deprivation of rights without due process - in this case, the hard passes being revoked without adequate procedure. This establishes important precedent for press freedom protections. ## Industry-wide solidarity emerges Major networks including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC declined to replace CNN's pool coverage in protest. 49 media organizations filed a supporting brief arguing viewpoint-based discrimination violates Supreme Court precedents. The New York Times and Washington Post withheld pool photos in solidarity. This unprecedented industry unity demonstrates how the ban was perceived as threatening fundamental press freedoms beyond just the targeted outlets. ## Legal battle timeline The outlets filed suit Monday after Trump's August 1 ban announcement. Judge Kelly's Thursday order came after expedited review. The 14-day TRO period allows for briefing on a preliminary injunction. While Trump vowed to appeal, Kelly noted such orders are typically unappealable. This mirrors 2017's Acosta case where Kelly similarly reinstated CNN's credentials after revocation - suggesting a pattern of judicial pushback against press restrictions. ## Administration's stance The Justice Department maintains the ban was lawful under the First Amendment, claiming adequate notice was given - a point Judge Kelly disputed. Trump called the outlets "fake news" and accused them of national security violations through "false" reporting. He expressed regret over appointing Kelly and vowed to continue fighting the ruling. This reflects ongoing tensions between the administration and press since 2017. ## What's next legally During the 14-day TRO, both sides will submit evidence for a preliminary injunction hearing. The court will establish an expedited briefing schedule. If granted, the injunction could extend protections beyond the initial two weeks. The administration may attempt alternative legal maneuvers despite the order's nominal unappealability. This sets up continued constitutional tests of executive power versus press freedoms. ## Historical context This isn't Trump's first confrontation with CNN - he revoked Jim Acosta's credentials in 2017 after a contentious press conference. That case also went before Judge Kelly, who ordered reinstatement. The current broader ban represents escalation in targeting multiple outlets. Media law experts note such systematic exclusion of specific organizations breaks from decades of bipartisan press access traditions at the White House. ## Broader implications The ruling reinforces judicial checks on executive authority over press access. It establishes that credential revocation requires due process regardless of administration grievances. The strong industry response signals media will collectively resist perceived attacks on institutional press freedoms. However, the temporary nature leaves questions about long-term protections, especially if the administration finds alternative exclusion methods. ## Sources covering this story - https://time.com/article/2026/09/24/judge-overturns-trump-white-house-media-ban-temporary-order-appeal/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._