CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday after their journalists were barred from the White House, arguing that the restrictions violate First Amendment protections.
The three outlets filed their complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington after reporters had their credentials disabled or confiscated on Saturday, one day after Trump announced the ban over coverage he described as “fake news.”
The organizations asked the court to quickly declare the restrictions unconstitutional and prevent the administration from enforcing them.
They said the White House revoked their journalists’ credentials because it objected to their reporting and argued that allowing the action to stand would threaten press freedom and independent journalism.
The complaint was accompanied by a request for a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the bans.
The White House defended its position, saying First Amendment protections allow the organizations to publish but do not guarantee them White House credentials, briefing room seats or positions in the press pool.
Trump also rejected accusations that his administration was attacking press freedom, maintaining that his actions were directed at coverage he considers false.
Vice President JD Vance separately described the decision as a matter of fairness and said the organizations remained free to report outside the White House.
The dispute also disrupted television coverage of the president after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled White House pool duties during Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The television pool subsequently said it would provide no replacement, leaving designated presidential events without the usual shared network coverage.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC issued a joint statement emphasizing the public interest in independent information about the government and opposing restrictions imposed because an administration objects to an outlet’s reporting.
CNN journalists instead reported from outside the secured White House grounds.
The dispute follows an earlier confrontation involving the Associated Press, whose access to certain presidential spaces was restricted over its continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” rather than “Gulf of America.”
The AP sued, and that case remains ongoing.