Three U.S. news organizations have asked for an emergency court hearing, claiming the White House has repeatedly ignored a judge’s directive to reinstate their press credentials amid a standoff with President Donald Trump.
Staff from CNN, Politico and MSNBC said they were barred from entering the White House on Thursday morning; some had their press badges taken away, while others were allowed inside.
Early Thursday, Judge Timothy Kelly ordered a temporary lift of the ban, stating that the restriction likely infringed upon the outlets’ constitutional due‑process rights.
President Trump initially claimed the ban was a response to “fake news,” but the White House later shifted its justification to national‑security concerns.
It remained uncertain whether the Thursday morning denials stemmed from an administrative delay as the White House possibly worked to implement the judge’s ruling.
The standoff threatened to disrupt television coverage, as President Trump was set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House that morning before a state dinner.
CNN reported that several of its journalists, including senior White House correspondent Betsy Klein, were refused entry, although a producer was permitted to go inside.
Politico noted that one of its reporters was barred from the White House and had his press credentials seized.
MSNBC said its White House reporter Laura Barrón‑López and a producer were denied entry and had their credentials confiscated, while a different MSNBC producer was granted access.
The White House has not yet responded to the ruling, and attorneys representing the president indicated they may pursue additional legal steps.