A new faceoff between the news media and the president, a persistent critic of forceful journalism, lasted six days before a federal judge sided with journalists whose White House access had been banned. The ban applied to reporters from two cable networks -- CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) -- and the website Politico, targeted by Donald Trump because of what he calls "negative stories" and "fake news." Those news outlets sued over what they saw as a violation of press freedom guarantees.

A federal judge agreed, saying the presidential order was likely unconstitutional and ordering the administration to restore access for the three news outlets. Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington granted a 14-day restraining order and told the White House to "immediately return, reinstate and restore" press credentials for 78 affected employees. "This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most basic constitutional principles," the media lawsuit says. "The Constitution does not allow a president or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and liberty and property interests with no notice or process, based solely on his dislike of the content of their reporting." Earlier, a White House statement said: "No president is required to host a hostile operation on the grounds. Access has always been a privilege — and President Trump is applying that rule." The president last week described reporting he dislikes as "a threat to democracy," though he didn't cite stories or other coverage by any of the banned outlets that he feels was false.

In a notable display of media unity, five TV networks – including Fox News, a longtime Trump ally – stopped pooling resources to videotape presidential events. Solidarity is reinforced by The Washington Post, New York Times and Associated Press, which didn't show images of presidential appearances, including at the United Nations. National Public Radio withheld audio coverage of White House events. TV coverage resumed Friday, though the White House kept CNN from accompanying Trump on a Saturday trip to Tennessee for a college football game.

"This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law," said a lawyer for the media companies. The new skirmish follows a 2025 attempt to limit Associated Press access after it wouldn't use "Gulf of America," the president's preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico. A federal judge sided with the wire service. A New York Times editorial puts the new showdown in historic context: "The American system of government has endured for more than 250 years partly because our leaders are not autocrats who can censor criticism or monopolize information flow. They are subject to feedback, debate and critique."

President says: "Fake news should not be allowed in the White House!!! It has gone on far too long, at a tremendous cost to our country." – Truth Social post last Saturday, Sept. 26 (in all capital letters

Editorial says: "The new ban is alarming for two reasons: It continues both Mr. Trump's attempt to prevent the free flow of information in American society and his utter disregard of the law." – The New York Times

Blogger says: "He's engaged in the most full-frontal assault on the free press of any president in modern history." – Miles Taylor, past homeland security chief of staff in Trump's first term