District court judge Timothy Kelly was ruling after the Trump administration blocked access to the three outlets in September
A federal judge ordered the White House on Tuesday to continue allowing journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico to access the building as the media coalition’s lawsuit against the Trump administration plays out.
Timothy Kelly, a district court judge, had on 24 September granted a 14-day reprieve for the news organizations, which six days earlier had been banned by the president in an extraordinary move from entering the White House grounds “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS”.
“Defendants (except for President Trump) and their agents, representatives, and all persons or entities acting in concert with them, shall not execute, implement, or enforce the September 18, 2026, decision to revoke the White House ‘hard pass’ press credentials held by employees of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO, thereby maintaining the status quo since the Court’s entry of a temporary restraining order on September 24, 2026,” the judge wrote in granting a preliminary injunction requested by the plaintiffs.
Defendants (except for President Trump)
Interesting little detail there. It seems like even with this much of a slam-dunk case, this judge doesn’t want to get into any business that tries to put limits on what a President can do.
But Trump, himself, can’t really do much on his own. He needs his staff to execute his orders. When Trump (inevitably) ignores this and uses these words as an excuse to say “The judge specifically said I am allowed to do this”, I wonder if the judge has the balls to start holding White House staffers in civil contempt? Because that’s the only way this ruling will end up being enforced.
Supreme Court has already said a president can do whatever he wants so long as it’s in the interest of the country. Including Trump’s name would have probably negated the entire decision.
Don’t be so sure. I wouldn’t put it past Trump to wait until the judge puts literally every White House staffer in jail for contempt, and Trump will simply replace them with more “yes man” who will continue to do his illegal bidding.
Now that Ellison owns CNN I’m sure their last shreds of journalistic integrity will suddenly be nowhere to be found.
