White House fights court battle over media access ban

The Trump administration and three news outlets barred from the White House faced off Wednesday before a federal judge in Washington over the legality of President Donald Trump's decision to revoke their access without notice. The president surprised the outlets on September 18 by blocking CNN, MS NOW, and Politico with "immediate effect," accusing them of spreading "false information." The three media organizations sued Monday, alleging a "direct attack on the First Amendment" and a "flagrant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles." Judge Timothy Kelly adjourned the hearing after less than an hour, promising a decision "as soon as possible," though he appeared skeptical of the White House's compliance with notice requirements. Government lawyer Michael Velchik urged the judge not to rule before Friday, citing letters offering the outlets a process to contest their exclusion. The White House cited national security concerns over reporting on ammunition shortages, but media attorney Theodore Boutrous dismissed these as post-hoc justifications, noting Trump's original announcement focused on "negative" coverage. The eviction prompted four other TV pool members to halt participation in the video feed, and Fox News, CNN, and MS NOW did not broadcast Trump's welcome of China's president. The Justice Department argues White House access is "a privilege, not a right," while Trump has signaled he would appeal an unfavorable ruling.