- Donald Trump's administration blocked reporters from Politico, MS NOW, and CNN from entering the White House and stripped their credentials, despite a federal court order instructing the immediate return of their press passes hours earlier.
- U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted a temporary restraining order against the press ban, ruling that the government provided no factual support that national security was at risk and concluding the move was likely aimed at suppressing negative news coverage.
- On Thursday morning, journalists attempting to enter the White House press area were turned away, with Secret Service agents confiscating credentials and explaining that the access passes remained disabled in the system.
- The news organizations filed a federal lawsuit accusing the administration of violating First Amendment rights to free speech and Fifth Amendment due process guarantees by discriminating against media outlets based solely on editorial viewpoints.
- Trump defended the media ban on social media, accusing the targeted outlets of reporting fiction and dangerous lies, while Judge Kelly noted that national security arguments were only presented days after the initial ban was announced.
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