A federal judge in Washington has determined that the Trump administration’s exclusion of journalists from CNN, Politico, and MS Now is likely unconstitutional, ordering the reinstatement of their White House credentials while the legal battle proceeds.
The three media organizations filed a lawsuit against the president and other administration officials on Monday, alleging that the ban infringes upon First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press, as well as due process guarantees. They sought an immediate temporary restraining order to regain access.
President Trump had publicly defended the prohibition on social media, stating that the outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.” Justice Department attorneys subsequently attempted to justify the restrictions by citing national security concerns.
The dispute intensified following reports first published by MS Now on Wednesday, indicating that the president is seeking to rename the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C.—the historic site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination—after himself. Trump addressed the report on Truth Social on Thursday evening, attributing the story to “Dumocrats” and labeling it a “ridiculous lie” orchestrated by MSDNC and CNN.
Preventing journalists from reporting facts isn’t news management, it’s suppression. This ruling is long overdue.
Does ‘MS Now’ refer to MSNBC? The article seems to have some typos or weird naming conventions.
The Ford Theatre rename rumor is wild. Can we focus on the constitutional issue instead of the drama?
I’m skeptical about the temporary nature of this ruling. Will these outlets really get fair access going forward?
This is a significant win for press freedom. Glad the judge saw through the national security excuse.