# Trump-Appointed Judge Rules Trump's Press Ban Unconstitutional

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/trump-appointed-judge-rules-trumps-press-ban-unconstitutional
- Published: 2026-09-24T13:08:19.665421+00:00
- Topics: press-freedom, white-house, judiciary, first-amendment, trump-administration

## What the left says
- The ruling reinforces that press credentials cannot be stripped based on the content or tone of a news outlet's coverage without violating due process rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
- The judge found no credible evidence that national security justified the ban, noting the administration only raised that argument after the lawsuit was filed and the stories cited were routine and sometimes months old.
- This case echoes a 2018 precedent involving CNN's Jim Acosta, showing a consistent pattern of using access as a retaliatory tool against unfavorable coverage rather than for legitimate security reasons.
- Other major outlets suspended sharing their own White House video and photo coverage in solidarity, signaling broad concern across the press corps about protecting independent journalism from political retaliation.

## What the right says
- The fact that a Trump-appointed judge issued this ruling demonstrates that the judiciary is functioning independently, and the administration can pursue appeal rather than claiming bias.
- The White House maintains that access to cover the president is a discretionary privilege, not a constitutional right, and that the administration has legitimate authority to manage who receives that access.
- The administration's stated concern involved a pattern of coverage it viewed as consistently inaccurate or unfair over an extended period, not a single story or a viewpoint-based grudge.
- The outlets in question retained the ability to report on the White House from outside the complex throughout the dispute, undercutting claims that press freedom itself was ever fully extinguished.

## Common ground
- Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump during his first term, issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to restore press credentials to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- President Trump announced the ban on September 18, citing what he called years of unfair and inaccurate coverage from the three outlets.
- The ruling centered on procedural due process, finding the outlets were not given notice or a chance to contest the decision before their credentials were revoked.
- The timing coincided with a high-profile state visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping, ensuring press coverage of that event was not disrupted.

## Sources
- [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/24/nx-s1-5979582/judge-order-trump-restore-access-white-house) (Lean Left)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/ben-smith/2026/09/24/cnn-ms-now-politico-get-their-white-house-passes-back-after-trump-appointed-judge-steps-in-n2207320) (Unknown)
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/US/judge-orders-white-house-restore-press-passes-cnn/story?id=136709442) (Lean Left)
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/24/cnn-white-house-ms-politico-access) (Lean Left)
- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqm2mg34x2v7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) (Center)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-blocks-trump-ban-cnn-ms-now-politico-restoring-white-house-access/) (Lean Left)
- [NBC News](https://www.today.com/video/federal-judge-blocks-trump-s-ban-of-cnn-ms-now-politico-270432837608) (Lean Left)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/judge-ruling-white-house-restore-access-media-ban-cnn-politico-ms-now-rcna599391) (Lean Left)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-media-ban-judge-ruling/2026/09/24/id/1270494) (Right)
- [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/24/g-s1-144850/up-first-newsletter-cnn-msnow-politico-iran-ukraine-unga-china-xi-jinping-trump) (Lean Left)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/24/judge-orders-trump-restore-white-house-access-cnn-ms-now-politico-media-ban) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6108012-judge-orders-white-house-to-immediately-restore-access-to-cnn-ms-now-politico/) (Center)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/24/judge-reinstates-media-outlets-banned-trump/) (Right)
- [Townhall](https://townhall.com/news/mattvespa/2026/09/24/cnns-white-house-access-has-been-restored-and-their-meltdown-was-for-nothing-n2683491) (Right)

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