The CNN and MS NOW stations and the online newspaper Politico again had access to the White House, after a judicial decision ordering the immediate restitution of press credentials, withdrawn by order of President Donald Trump.
© Reuters
24/09/2026
by
Lusa
Dafter continuing to see them barred this morning, access to the official residence of the American President, despite the decision of Washington federal judge Timothy Kelly, the professionals of the three media banned by Trump have already been able to access the White House this afternoon.
Upon seeing the court's order disrespected this morning, the CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) stations and the online newspaper Politico requested an urgent hearing from Judge Timothy Kelly, complaining that the secret services of the White House confiscated the press accreditations from some of their professionals, and early in the afternoon around 12:30 locals (17:30 from Lisbon), were finally able to access the building again.
“CNN was allowed to return to the White House on Thursday at noon, after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily re-establish its access,” said the station on its website, recalling that in the morning, its reporter Betsy Klein and a photojournalist were prevented from entering.
MS NOW and Politico have also confirmed that their professionals may return to the White House.
Trump announced last Friday a veto on the political newspaper and the television channels CNN and MS NOW for allegedly spreading “fake news” and later accused them of endangering national security with their reports.
At the beginning of the week, the three media jointly filed a complaint for violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, with federal judge Timothy Kelly ordering them to be reestablished access, considering that the prohibition occurred “without due process”.
The emergency order has temporary effect until October 8th, and determines the access of these media to the White House, at least “until the court issues another order or until the measure announced today expires”.
The D.C. District Court Judge granted, with the decision, the request of the media affected, who requested this temporary emergency order while examining the merits of the case.
Lawyers questioned the invocation of national security issues as the basis of the decision, when, they argued, Trump's first public statements focused on information he considered false or negative.
The case brought by CNN, MS NOW and Politico argues that the withdrawal of credentials is a reprisal for the content of their news and a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution, in addition to questioning the withdrawal of authorisations to journalists without prior notification, nor an opportunity to challenge the decision.
Following Trump’s decision to shut down access to CNN, Politico and MS NOW, the other four TV stations of the White House’s ‘pool’ – CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox News – decided to cease their participation in an unprecedented gesture of solidarity.
On the third day of the boycott of the video stream distributed to television stations, neither Fox News, nor CNN, nor MS NOW broadcast live the images of Donald Trump's reception to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the outskirts of Washington.