President Donald Trump just suffered a significant courtroom setback — and the judge responsible was appointed by Trump himself.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, ordering officials to restore the news organizations’ press credentials while their legal battle continues.
The ruling, issued Thursday, September 24, gives the three media organizations temporary access to the White House for 14 days. It does not represent a final decision in the lawsuit, meaning the dispute over presidential authority, press access and constitutional protections is far from over.
Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks White House Ban
Kelly issued a temporary restraining order directing the administration to restore the White House “hard passes” previously held by journalists working for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
The judge concluded that the organizations had demonstrated a sufficient likelihood of succeeding on their claim that the credentials were revoked without constitutionally adequate due process.
Obtaining a temporary restraining order requires plaintiffs to meet a substantial legal standard. Kelly determined that the news organizations had done enough at this early stage to justify temporarily reversing the White House action.
The order remains effective for 14 days while the court considers what happens next.
That distinction is important: Kelly has not issued a final ruling declaring that the White House can never restrict the outlets’ access.
Instead, the judge has temporarily restored the situation that existed before Trump imposed the ban while the larger lawsuit proceeds.
Why Trump Banned CNN, MS NOW And Politico
Trump announced the restrictions on September 18 after repeatedly criticizing the three organizations over their coverage of his administration.
The president accused the outlets of publishing false information and said they should not be allowed continued White House access.
Reporters from the organizations were subsequently prevented from entering the White House grounds. Some journalists said their credentials were deactivated or confiscated.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico responded by filing a federal lawsuit against Trump and other administration officials on September 21.
The organizations contend that they were punished because of their reporting and argue that the restrictions violated First Amendment protections as well as their Fifth Amendment due-process rights. Those remain allegations being litigated in federal court rather than final judicial findings.
Trump Administration Defends Its Authority
The Justice Department has challenged that interpretation.
Government attorneys have argued that access to the White House is a privilege rather than an unlimited constitutional right and that the administration has significant authority to determine who receives access to secure presidential facilities.
The administration also raised national security concerns in defending the restrictions.
Kelly was not persuaded by the evidence presented on that point at this stage of the litigation.
According to accounts of the ruling, the judge found insufficient factual support in the existing court record for the argument that revoking the three organizations’ passes was necessary to protect national security.
That does not prevent the Justice Department from presenting additional legal arguments or evidence as the case moves forward.
Judge Kelly Was Appointed By Trump
One element certain to attract attention is Kelly’s connection to Trump.
Trump nominated Kelly to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia during his first term.
Now that same judge has issued an order temporarily preventing the Trump White House from enforcing one of the president’s most aggressive recent moves against major news organizations.
A federal judge’s appointing president, however, does not determine how the judge must rule after receiving lifetime judicial confirmation. Federal judges regularly issue decisions both supporting and rejecting policies advanced by presidents who nominated them.
In this case, Kelly concluded that the media organizations had cleared the legal threshold necessary for temporary relief.
White House Access Initially Remained Confused
The controversy took another turn Thursday morning.
Despite Kelly’s order directing that access be restored immediately, some journalists from the affected organizations reported that they initially remained unable to enter White House grounds.
CNN reporter Mike Valerio said he attempted to enter shortly after 6 a.m. but was informed that his credentials had not yet been restored in the system.
The organizations returned to court seeking clarification and enforcement of Kelly’s order.
The situation changed later Thursday, when the White House confirmed that access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico had been reinstated.
Major Networks Responded To The Ban
Trump’s decision also created turmoil within the White House press pool.
The television pool is used when logistical or space restrictions prevent every news organization from having its own reporter or camera crew near the president. Participating organizations gather material that can then be shared more broadly.
After CNN lost its access, other television organizations suspended portions of their pooled presidential coverage.
The dispute therefore became larger than a confrontation between Trump and three individual media companies. It raised a broader fight over the rules governing access to the president and the White House press corps.
First Amendment Fight Could Continue
The most important issue now is what happens after the temporary order expires.
The news organizations contend that once the government provides journalists with regular White House credentials, those credentials cannot be revoked as punishment for coverage government officials dislike.
The administration disputes the outlets’ characterization of its authority and has defended the president’s ability to control access to White House facilities.
Those competing arguments could determine whether the temporary restraining order develops into a longer-lasting injunction.
Legal specialists interviewed by Reuters before Kelly’s decision pointed to previous federal court rulings concerning government restrictions on press credentials, while noting that the exact scope of White House access remains the subject of continuing litigation.
What The Ruling Actually Means
For readers following the case, there are several important points to keep straight.
Kelly’s ruling is temporary, not a final judgment on the constitutionality of Trump’s policy.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have regained White House access while litigation continues.
The Trump administration can continue defending its policy and challenging the organizations’ constitutional arguments.
And the federal court could soon face another decision over whether the temporary protection should be extended.
The legal fight therefore remains active.
Trump’s Battle With The Media Enters A New Phase
Trump has maintained an adversarial relationship with several major news organizations for years, frequently accusing outlets of unfair or inaccurate reporting.
His latest White House restrictions intensified that conflict by moving the dispute from political rhetoric into a direct fight over physical access to the presidency.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico argue that allowing a president to remove credentials because of unfavorable coverage would threaten constitutional press protections.
The Trump administration has maintained that the government retains substantial discretion over who is permitted inside secure White House facilities.
Kelly’s ruling temporarily favors the news organizations on the due-process question, but it does not resolve the broader dispute permanently.
What Happens Next
The next stage could prove more consequential than Thursday’s ruling.
Because the temporary restraining order lasts only 14 days, the court may soon have to consider whether a preliminary injunction should remain in place for a longer period while the lawsuit proceeds.
The Justice Department could also pursue additional legal options as it attempts to defend the administration’s position.
For Trump, that means a battle that began with a social-media announcement has developed into a federal constitutional case involving presidential authority, freedom of the press and due process.
And the judge temporarily standing in the administration’s way is one Trump himself placed on the federal bench.
For now, CNN, MS NOW and Politico are back inside the White House.
Whether they stay there could depend on the next round of this closely watched court fight.