Reporters whose White House access was revoked after President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the grounds were allowed back into the complex on Thursday. According to CBS News, this happened after U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued an order granting the outlets temporary relief, forcing senior Trump administration officials to restore their press credentials.
Before the ban was lifted, former President Barack Obama gave his thoughts on the media ban issued by Trump at an event at Salem State University in Massachusetts. According to CNN, he said he was not surprised by the decision. He also pointed to a lack of partisan criticism, noting, “You can’t do that and say that you are still living in a democracy.”
He also stated, “The free press, the idea that the government cannot discriminate against, or pick on, or bully, or exclude somebody because they don’t like the criticism that’s being leveled at them, that is a foundational issue. And so, I am not surprised that the current president wants to ban newscasts that are critical of him, because he’s that guy.” Obama also noted that the ban would get overturned, but that no one from the GOP stopped him. “That lack of guardrails is what I’m most concerned about.”
A shocking ban
The ban was reportedly initiated last week, with Trump stating it was “a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Per CBS, the director of White House press operations received a notice at 7:10 am to restore the journalists’ access. According to the Secret Service, the badges were reactivated around 9:07 AM, and the confiscated credentials were delivered to White House Operations staff at 9:45 AM.
Breaking news: CNN, MS NOW and Politico requested an emergency hearing after they were again blocked from accessing the White House today despite a federal judge’s early-morning ruling ordering the government to restore their credentials. https://t.co/R7ARHk4YLi
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 24, 2026
This entire slow trickle-in reportedly happened while Trump was welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House for a state visit. Since many outlets had suspended most coverage in solidarity with CNN, the elaborate ceremonies Trump organized for Jinping weren’t broadcast by major U.S. television networks. This is especially unsurprising when you consider that CNN is part of the press pool that documents the president’s daily activities.
CBS reported that Kelly’s decision to reinstate access while the outlets challenged the ban was issued after midnight on Wednesday. He wrote an eight-page ruling stating that the news outlets are likely to succeed in showing their due process rights were violated, and further noted that the journalists weren’t given prior notice of the bans or an opportunity to challenge them.
Kelly also mentioned he is skeptical of the administration’s claim that the bans were motivated by national security concerns. He pointed out that nothing in the record predates the suit to suggest that the revocation of the hard passes was motivated by national security. He specifically noted that Mr. Trump focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of the reporting when he announced the ban.
Former President Obama calls President Trump "that guy" and says it is not surprising that he wants to ban certain press from White House: "The government cannot discriminate against or pick on or bully or exclude somebody because they don't like the criticism…" pic.twitter.com/2RBam4jW70
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 24, 2026
Per NBC News, the DOJ had previously argued that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right. They claimed the outlets failed to maintain basic minimum standards of professionalism and decorum. However, Judge Kelly didn’t seem convinced by these arguments. He noted that one of the standards of conduct cited by the White House is so vague that it hardly does the trick
The Justice Department is expected to appeal. Additionally, Trump has already indicated on Truth Social earlier in the week that he would turn to the appeals court if the ruling went against him.
Interestingly, it isn’t only a former president and a federal government calling Trump out. Per CNN, First Lady Melania Trump quietly took a different stance than her husband when her office formally approved CNN’s and Politico’s press credentials for her “Fostering the Future Together” coalition on Tuesday. This underscores how she often operates independently of her husband.
Melania Trump is not the first lady. She is the first right of refusal to her husband’s bad ideas. https://t.co/ss6zklT8c8
— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) September 23, 2026
For now, the restraining order will remain in place for 14 days, and the free press is back on the job while the court considers longer-lasting relief.
