On September 24, 2026, the administration of President Donald Trump reinstated White House press credentials for Politico, MS NOW, and CNN. The federal judges, journalists, journalists, journalists, federal judges, journalists, federal judges, access, and the federal judges, and the Constitution.
The White House was ordered by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to reinstate the reporters’ credentials for a period of 14 days. The court may, however, extend the temporary order because the legal fight is still ongoing.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | The White House restored press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. |
| Location | White House, Washington, D.C. |
| Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Who is involved | President Donald Trump, Judge Timothy Kelly, CNN, MS NOW and Politico. |
| Current status | The reporters regained access under a temporary 14 day court order. |
| Why it matters | The case concerns press access, constitutional rights and White House media policies. |
White House Restores Media Access After Court Ruling
On September 24, the Trump administration reinstated CNN, MS NOW, and Politico’s press credentials. Judge Timothy Kelly’s order to restore the journalists’ access led to the decision.
Shortly after noon, the three news outlets verified that their reporters had been allowed back in. But earlier that morning, a few journalists had access issues.
Micah Stopperich, director of White House press operations, told the court that the credentials had been reinstated that morning. Additionally, he stated that the badges may be picked up before 10 a.m. the restoration, the legal battle is still ongoing. The three news organizations are currently protected by Judge Kelly’s injunction.
Why Did the Judge Restore Credentials?
Judge Timothy Kelly decided that the Trump administration likely violated the Constitution by revoking the journalists’ credentials without proper legal procedures.
Kelly highlighted in his ruling that the administration did not offer proof of national security concerns prior to taking that step.
The judge also mentioned the lack of constitutionally mandated due process. His ruling necessitates that the government provide reporters with temporary access while the legal dispute is being handled.
Kelly had ruled against Trump in a different disagreement in 2018 over a CNN reporter’s White House credentials.
White House Press Access Battle Continues
Judge Kelly set deadlines for both sides to present legal arguments. CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have until September 28 to request a further renewal of their credentials.
The Trump administration has until October 2 to reply. The three media organizations can then submit final responses by October 5.
Kelly intends to hold a hearing after analyzing the comments to determine whether to extend the temporary order.
While the three news organizations regained access, the White House television press pool remained restricted.
The television pool permits a select group of journalists to cover presidential events. One camera team captures video and distributes it to partner networks.
The pool includes five major television networks: CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and NBC. However, they had not resumed normal coverage following the disagreement over CNN’s involvement.
The networks also passed up an opportunity to obtain pooled video of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24.
Critics Question the White House Media Ban
The court’s decision drew reactions from press freedom advocates and political leaders.
Conor Fitzpatrick, chief supervising attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said the administration must follow the court’s order. He warned that refusing to comply could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticised Trump’s decision to restrict media access. He argued that the government should not use press restrictions to avoid scrutiny.
Court Order Restores White House Access
The White House restored access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico after Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary order. His ruling focused on the constitutional protections that apply when officials revoke journalists’ credentials.
However, the 14-day order does not settle the wider legal dispute. The court’s next decisions will determine how the case proceeds and whether the temporary protections continue.
