Trump must allow banned US media back into the White House

Interim injunction

Trump must allow banned US media back into the White House

The US President is once again taking rigorous action against leading US media and banning them from the White House. But after just a few days a court banned this – at least for the time being.

The US government must block journalists from the station CNNMS NOW and the news portal “Politico” will initially grant access to the White House again. On Thursday night (local time), a federal judge granted an urgent request from the US President Donald Trump excluded media.

The press cards of the journalists affected must be returned or restored “immediately,” the interim order said. Judge Timothy Kelly considered it likely that the withdrawal of the ID cards had taken place without a constitutionally appropriate procedure. The general rule is that “individuals must be given notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government deprives them of a constitutionally protected interest.”

The instruction comes into force immediately and is initially valid for 14 days. During this time the court will discuss further proceedings. An interim injunction is “fundamentally not appealable,” it said.

Judge Kelly also found that the US government’s argument that the revocation of press credentials was necessary to protect national security was not sufficiently substantiated. The court doubts that security concerns were the actual motivation for banning journalists from the White House, it said. When he announced that he would ban the media from the White House, Trump simply criticized their reporting as untrue and negative.

Ted Boutrous, a lawyer for the media companies, praised the court’s quick action in a statement to CNN. “This is a clear decision in favor of press freedom, due process and the rule of law.” The White House did not initially comment on the decision. Trump had already announced a few days ago that he would appeal in court if he lost.

Trump announced last Friday that the three media outlets were immediately banned from accessing the White House because they had spread false news. Critics see Trump’s actions as an attack on press freedom and an obvious attempt to intimidate critically reporting media. On Saturday, journalists from all three media companies said access to the White House grounds was blocked. Trump also threatened to extend the ban to other media.

As a result, the three media outlets went to court. Meanwhile, other media outlets expressed their solidarity with the journalists who were fired. The close TV coverage of Trump’s appointments and trips, which is regulated by a rotation principle by large television networks, was stopped by them – as a protest because CNN is part of this so-called pool.

A joint statement from the TV channels said the public has a fundamental interest in receiving independent information about their government. No government should restrict a news organization simply because it disapproves of its reporting.