CNN, MSNBC and Politico File Emergency First Amendment Lawsuit to Reverse White House Ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced Monday they are filing a joint emergency lawsuit in federal court against President Donald Trump, seeking to reverse his ban barring their journalists from White House grounds. The suit, filed in the DC District Court, could result in hearings and arguments from the administration as soon as this week. The outlets described the action in their draft filing as "a direct assault on the First Amendment" and asked the court to act immediately to restore access.

Trump announced the ban Friday, September 18, via Truth Social, accusing the three outlets of reporting "FICTION and LIES" and warning that other news organizations could face similar restrictions. Journalists from all three outlets were physically barred from White House grounds on Saturday, September 19, and had their press passes confiscated, a day after the announcement took effect. CNN was also removed from its scheduled role as the primary TV representative for the rotating White House press pool on Monday.

The White House Correspondents' Association called for reporters' access to be restored, and the Knight First Amendment Institute condemned the restrictions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, when asked about the ban Monday, said he did not know much about it. The legal action echoes a 2018 episode in which CNN sued over the revocation of correspondent Jim Acosta's credentials, resulting in a Trump-appointed federal judge ordering their temporary restoration on due process grounds.