CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists returned to the White House on Thursday after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s decision to ban the three news organisations, ending days of an extraordinary standoff between the administration and media outlets it had criticised.The journalists were initially denied entry on Thursday morning, with the outlets saying a Secret Service agent confiscated their credentials. They were allowed back into the White House by early afternoon after the administration reinstated their disabled badges.The developments unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington for talks with Trump, adding urgency to the dispute over access for White House reporters.The three organisations had challenged the ban in a joint lawsuit, arguing that the administration had violated the First Amendment by targeting them over the content of their coverage.Judge temporarily blocks White House banUS District Judge James E. Boasberg Kelly issued a late-night ruling temporarily blocking the White House from enforcing the ban. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days while the case receives further consideration.“This is a high bar, but Plaintiffs have met it,” Kelly wrote.The judge said the news organisations were likely to demonstrate that they had not been given adequate due process before their access was revoked. He also said the White House had failed to establish clear standards for conduct that could result in the withdrawal of press access.Kelly described the White House’s standard concerning objectionable reporting as “so vague it hardly does the trick.”The judge also rejected the administration’s argument that the outlets’ reporting posed a national security risk, noting that Trump had initially focused on what he described as negative coverage rather than national security concerns.Kelly was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2017. He had also ordered the restoration of access for a CNN journalist in a similar case in 2018.White House says restoring access took timeThe news organisations asked the court for an immediate hearing on Thursday after their journalists were initially denied entry, arguing that the White House appeared to be disregarding the judge’s order.The White House said in a court filing that the delay was because it took time to reinstate the journalists’ disabled credentials. The administration filed its response shortly after the reporters were allowed back inside.The White House did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on the judge’s order.Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney representing the three outlets, welcomed the ruling.“This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law,” Theodore Boutrous Jr. said in an emailed statement. “We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”Trump had accused outlets of ‘fake news’Trump announced the ban on Friday, attacking the three organisations as “fake news.” He later argued that their reporting posed a risk to national security.The outlets disputed the justification and argued that the administration had singled them out because of their coverage.During Wednesday’s emergency hearing, Boutrous argued that the outlets faced irreparable harm because they were being denied access during a period of major international developments.“We’re at war,” he told the judge. “We have world leaders coming to Washington.”Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik defended the administration’s position, arguing that the president has broad authority over access to the White House.“Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right,” Velchik said.Velchik also rejected the claim that Trump was engaging in viewpoint discrimination. He argued that Trump had criticised other news organisations without banning them, citing his criticism of ABC as “the worst.”Major networks suspend Trump pool coverageThe dispute also prompted other major news organisations to take action in support of the three outlets. The US network press pool, which includes five major networks including CNN, suspended coverage of Trump pool events pending further notice.Kelly’s ruling did not address the rotating media pool.Following Wednesday’s hearing, the networks continued to withhold footage of Trump unless they received assurances that CNN would be allowed to participate in the White House pool.At Joint Base Andrews, where Trump formally welcomed Xi, journalists from Fox News, CBS and NBC were present but did not shoot video.Crews from NewsNation, Newsmax, Right Side Broadcasting Network, One America News and LindellTV were also present, according to signs displayed on their tripods and cameras.The Associated Press provided its video of Trump’s meeting with Xi to its customers so they could decide whether to broadcast it.“We did not stream the coverage on our own platforms, including APNews.com or our YouTube channel,” AP spokesman Patrick Maks said.The AP was among roughly 50 organisations that filed an amicus brief before Wednesday’s hearing, urging the court to immediately restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s access to the White House.
