White House Denies Access to Reporters Despite Court Order

A reporter for Politico was denied access to the White House on Thursday, hours after a federal judge had ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the outlet's press credentials. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday morning aimed to restore access for Politico, CNN, and MS NOW, which President Trump had banned the previous Friday.

Despite the judge's order, the Politico reporter had their credentials confiscated upon attempting to enter the White House. Similarly, a reporter from MS NOW also had their credentials seized and was denied entry.

The three news organizations filed their lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, and the legal case progressed rapidly. In a show of solidarity, major broadcasters including Fox News, NBC, CBS, and ABC, which form the TV pool responsible for presidential coverage, have refused to cover the president.

As President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng, on Wednesday, many broadcast teams reportedly refrained from filming the event. The media blackout has limited widespread coverage of the state visit, with most broadcasters not carrying events live. New media outlets, such as the MAGA-friendly network Real America's Voice, have stepped in to fill the coverage void with YouTube streams.

The broadcast tents previously occupied by CNN and MS NOW on White House grounds are now vacant, and correspondents have been conducting live shots from the streets outside the presidential residence.

It remains unclear when the White House will officially restore the outlets' credentials. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) issued a strong condemnation of the ban, with WHCA president Jacqui Heinrich stating, "The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask."