Some reporters denied White House access despite judge overturning Trump media ban

Reporters from three media outlets were barred from entering the White House hours after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s ban on their access should be temporarily lifted. Employees of CNN, Politico and MS Now said they were denied entry on Thursday morning, with some having their credentials confiscated while others were permitted inside. Lawyers for the outlets requested an emergency hearing, alleging that the White House “repeatedly violated” the order to restore press access. Judge Timothy Kelly overturned the ban in the early hours of Thursday, stating that it “likely violated their law owed process rights.” Trump initially said he decided to prohibit the outlets because they were spreading “fake news.” The White House later cited national security as the justification for the bans. It remained unclear whether the refusal to admit certain reporters on Thursday morning stemmed from an administrative delay as the administration possibly worked to comply with the judge’s directive. The standoff could affect television coverage, as Trump was set to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House Thursday morning ahead of a state dinner. CNN reported that several of its reporters, including senior White House correspondent Betsy Klein, were denied entry, although a producer was allowed in. Politico said one of its reporters was barred on Thursday morning and had his press credentials taken away. MS Now noted that its White House reporter Laura Barrón‑López and a producer were denied entry and had their passes confiscated, while another MS Now producer gained access. The White House has not commented on the ruling, and lawyers representing the president indicated they may pursue further legal action.