On September 24, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico regained access to the White House after being banned for six days by President Donald Trump. A federal judge ordered the restoration of their press credentials based on a violation of constitutional due process rights. Journalists from these outlets were initially turned away but later allowed entry around midday when Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to visit, amidst ongoing protests and legal challenges against the White House’s actions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 25, US TV networks resumed coverage of President Donald Trump’s events at the White House after a judge ordered the administration to lift its ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The ban was imposed last week due to what Trump described as unfavorable press coverage. Despite the reinstatement, tensions remain high; the networks ceased filming White House events in solidarity with banned outlets earlier in the week, resulting in no pool footage during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on September 24-25. The court battle continues, and CNN was barred from traveling with Trump to Tennessee for a weekend trip, though reasons were not officially provided by the administration.
Written for “White House Press Access Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 182 other(s) covering the same event.
CNN, MS NOW, Politico allowed back in White House after judge’s order
AI generated
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CNN → allow → order
CNN, MS NOW and Politico were allowed back into the White House on Sept 24, six days after being banned by President Donald Trump, after a federal judge ordered that the journalists have their access restored.
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access → allow → Trump
District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled overnight that revoking the White House press credentials of the three media outlets “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.”
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revoking → rule → rights
Reporters for CNN, MS NOW and Politico who attempted to return to the White House early on Sept 24 ahead of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping were initially turned away by the Secret Service but were allowed in later around midday.
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who → attempt → midday
Journalists from other outlets surrounded CNN’s tent on the White House driveway and filmed reporter Betsy Klein as she reported live following her return.
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she → surround → return
“Welcome back,” several journalists said.
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journalists → welcome → ?
CNN, MS NOW and Politico had requested an urgent court hearing on Sept 24 after their reporters were initially barred from the White House despite the judge’s order.
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reporters → request → order
In his ruling, Kelly took issue with how the White House went about expelling the three news organisations.
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House → take → organisations
“The ‘general rule’ is that ‘individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them’ of a constitutionally protected interest,” the judge said.
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judge → receive → interest
Trump has long attacked media that have aired critical coverage of him, repeatedly blasting the press as the “enemy of the people.”
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that → attack → people
The Republican president barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House on Sept 18 for distributing what he called “fake news” and “fiction and lies.”
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he → bar → what
They filed a joint lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order against the ban on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which upholds the right to a free press.
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which → file → press
Ahead of the ruling, the Department of Justice had argued that Trump can “control reporters’ access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office.”
“Access to the White House is a privilege – not a right,” it said.
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it → argue → House
The White House Press Office accused CNN in a letter to the cable news outlet of “trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about national security and other issues, and publishing sensitive or classified information,” with similar accusations leveled against MS NOW and Politico.
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Office → accuse → NOW
The letter to CNN cited several stories about the US-Iran war and a story on Trump’s plans to build a military bunker below the planned East Wing ballroom which allegedly “disclosed ‘top-secret’ construction details.”
uncertain
which → cite → details
Kelly, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, appeared unconvinced.
“
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who → appoint → term
The Court is sceptical – at least on this record – that Defendants’ interest in safeguarding national security is the actual motivation for, or is even advanced by, the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes,” the judge said.
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judge → safeguard → passes
In a rare move, the top five US broadcasters said that they were halting pool coverage of the White House – where a broadcaster films on behalf of all television outlets for the day – in solidarity with CNN.
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broadcaster → say → CNN
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government.
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public → have → government
No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting,” ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said.
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ABC → restrict → reporting
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