Trump's ban of three news outlets from White House access faces legal challenge as federal judge questions whether the administration provided adequate due process before revoking their credentials. The ban, which followed Trump's accusation of 'fake news,' has sparked lawsuits from the outlets, who argue it violates First Amendment protections.
The three outlets, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, have sued Trump and White House officials, alleging the revocation of their press passes was based on 'viewpoint discrimination' and violated the Fifth Amendment's due process clause. The administration has countered that the outlets breached 'standards of professionalism' by publishing 'verifiable falsehoods' and 'sensitive information.'
A federal judge has ordered a CNN journalist's access restored in a similar case in 2018, signaling potential legal hurdles for the current ban. The judge has indicated he will rule on the news outlets' request for a restraining order as soon as possible, emphasizing the need to follow precedent in similar First Amendment cases.
The Trump administration argues that access to the White House is a 'privilege,' not a 'right,' and that the president has the authority to protect national security by restricting access to those it deems inappropriate.