US Judge Extends White House Access for News Outlets in Press Freedom Dispute
A U.S. judge extended White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, finding Trump likely acted unlawfully in attempting to revoke their credentials.
UNITED STATES,POLITICS
Global N Press
10/14/20261 min read
WASHINGTON, October 14, 2026 — A U.S. federal judge extended White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that President Donald Trump likely acted unlawfully when he sought to revoke their credentials. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on October 13, maintaining protections first granted in an emergency order on September 24. Kelly said the available evidence indicated that the restrictions were linked to the president's objections to the outlets' reporting rather than the national security concerns cited by the administration in court.
The news organizations and press freedom groups argue that the restrictions violated First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as due process rights. The White House has maintained that the outlets can cover the president from outside its grounds and defended the administration's position. The Justice Department appealed the ruling on October 14, leaving the dispute unresolved. The case has drawn attention to the limits of executive authority and the role of independent media in scrutinizing the government, particularly ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The injunction is preliminary, and the final outcome will depend on further court proceedings or action by an appeals court.
