On Thursday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that CNN and MSNBC had ignored the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife at the White House, labeling the outlets a "fake news" operation that refused to give him credit for the historic meeting.
Trump announced the ban would take effect immediately and extended it to Politico, citing the outlets’ supposed failure to report accurately and their negative impact on his ratings.
CNN, MSNBC and Politico filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, arguing that the ban violated the First Amendment and the press’s right to cover presidential events.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, granted the petition and ordered the White House to restore access, stating that a government must provide notice and an opportunity to be heard before depriving individuals of a constitutionally protected interest.
The administration has petitioned the appellate court for a stay, but the judge’s ruling remains in effect, allowing the three outlets to return for the upcoming state dinner with Xi.