Media outlets say the White House repeatedly violated a court order to restore their press access, with reporters turned away even after a judge ruled their passes must be reinstated.
Key facts
- A US federal judge ordered the White House to 'immediately return, reinstate and restore' access for three outlets.
- Employees from CNN, Politico and MS Now reported being denied entry, with some passes confiscated.
- CNN and MS Now were later allowed back into the White House after some staff were earlier turned away.
- CNN and MS Now reporters were denied access to cover arrivals for a state dinner despite the ruling.
Several major news organisations have accused the White House of repeatedly violating a court order requiring it to restore their press access, according to reporting from the BBC and Al Jazeera.
A US federal judge had ordered the White House to ‘immediately return, reinstate and restore’ access for three outlets, Al Jazeera reported. Despite the ruling, media staff said they continued to face difficulties entering the building.
Employees from CNN, Politico and MS Now reported being denied entry, with some having their passes confiscated, according to the BBC. The situation unfolded over what Al Jazeera described as a chaotic few hours.
Access was later restored for at least some of the outlets. The BBC reported that CNN and MS Now were allowed back into the White House after some of their staff had earlier been turned away.
However, further problems were reported around a high-profile event. CNN and MS Now said reporters were denied access to covering White House arrivals for a state dinner, despite the judge ruling that their passes must be restored, according to the BBC.
The reported denials came after the outlets had been banned by Trump, prompting the legal challenge that led to the judge’s order, according to the BBC and Al Jazeera coverage of the dispute.
Why it matters
Press access to the White House is a central part of how the public receives independent information about the government. Allegations that a court order to restore that access was violated raise questions about compliance with judicial rulings and the treatment of specific news organisations.
Frequently asked questions
Which media outlets were affected?
CNN, Politico and MS Now were named as outlets whose staff reported being denied entry, according to the BBC and Al Jazeera.
What did the judge order?
A US federal judge ordered the White House to 'immediately return, reinstate and restore' the three outlets' access, according to Al Jazeera.
Was access eventually restored?
The BBC reported that CNN and MS Now were allowed back into the White House after some staff were earlier turned away, though reporters were later denied access to cover arrivals for a state dinner.