Despite a federal judge's order to immediately restore press credentials, reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were again denied entry to the White House on Thursday morning, escalating a confrontation between the administration and the news organizations.
CNN reporter Betsy Klein and a photojournalist were turned away from the grounds early Wednesday, while a CNN producer managed to get in with a valid pass, according to the network. The outlet said no reason was given for the refusal and that it would continue trying to gain access as the workday began.
MS NOW reported on its website that its correspondent was also blocked after the court ruling came down overnight. A Politico reporter was denied access on Thursday and had his press credentials confiscated, the publication said.
The denials occurred before 9 a.m. EDT, raising the possibility that the White House had not yet processed the judge's order. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled early Thursday that the White House must grant the outlets' journalists access to the complex, days after the organizations sued over President Trump's ban on their reporters. The emergency ruling, effective for two weeks, found that the reporters "did not receive an opportunity to be heard" before their credentials were revoked.
In his eight-page decision, Kelly wrote that the plaintiffs and the public have "an abiding interest in maintaining the status quo ante given the importance of the free press, which stands as one of the great interpreters between the government and the people."
Theodore Boutrous, an attorney for the outlets, called the ruling a "strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law."
The White House's defiance comes amid a broader clash over press access. Senate Republicans have signaled support for maintaining Capitol press access, even as the administration moves to bar certain outlets. Meanwhile, Vice President Vance has taunted CNN and Politico at a fraud event, and the administration's actions have drawn comparisons to authoritarian tactics, including restrictions on foreign journalists.
The legal battle is likely to intensify as the two-week order expires, and press freedom groups have condemned the administration's stance. The White House has not indicated whether it will comply with the court's directive, leaving the situation fluid.
