DOJ argues White House press access is a privilege, not a right, in Trump ban case
The Department of Justice urged a federal judge not to block President Trump's ban of three news outlets from the White House, arguing access is a "privilege — not a right" and citing national security concerns. The filing came ahead of a scheduled hearing on the outlets' lawsuit. The DOJ said Trump determined the outlets reported classified or sensitive information, giving him a compelling interest to limit access. It also argued there is no First Amendment right for reporters to enter the White House, rejecting claims of viewpoint discrimination. The filing included letters offering each outlet a chance to contest the ban by Friday, September 25, 2026, or the decision becomes final. The outlets, including CNN and Politico, sued Monday seeking to lift the ban.