White House press pass bans spark free-press fight

The Trump administration banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico journalists from White House access by deactivating their press credentials, prompting a lawsuit alleging First Amendment and due process violations. A federal judge has temporarily ordered their reinstatement. The ban stemmed from President Trump's announcement, with the Secret Service confiscating CNN reporter Betsy Klein's badge. The outlets sued, citing legal precedent that credentialed status cannot be summarily revoked. The judge's order restored access while litigation continues. Press credentials, like White House "hard passes," are issued by authorities and require background checks and demonstrated newsgathering work. Critics note a conflict when officials control access, and past disputes include the AP's Gulf of Mexico lawsuit and Trump's first-term revocation of Jim Acosta's pass.