By Jacob Halbesma, Local & National Editor
On Sept. 18, President Donald Trump announced on social media that major news outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from reporting on the White House “effective immediately.”
Trump posted claims on X about how national organizations report “FAKE NEWS” and they should not be able to publish “FICTION and LIES” about his administration. He added that the outlets had produced negative coverage and claimed they did so to diminish Republicans and his administration. The following morning, reporters from the barred stations had their press credentials confiscated and deactivated.
The White House Correspondents’ Association criticized the president’s actions, stating that press protections in the Constitution do not hinge on the president’s validation of an organization’s reporting.
Just a few days later, CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit against Trump and members of the administration, arguing that the ban was unconstitutional. They cited First Amendment freedom of speech and press rights, as well as Fifth Amendment rights relating to due process protection.
President Trump recently banned major news outlets from reporting on the White House, which led to a federal lawsuit against his administration.
The White House defended its decision, arguing that the reporting raised national security concerns.
“I think it unfortunately sends a message to the public that our national government feels it can disrespect our free speech at any moment,” sophomore business analytics major Gavin Guffey said.
“Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right,” Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik told the judge, later noting that previous administrations had restricted access for certain journalists or organizations.
After days of argument and deliberation, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary 14-day restraining order that required the White House to restore access to the banned groups. Kelly did not make a final determination on the alleged First Amendment violation but concluded that journalists would likely succeed on their due process claim and rejected the administrations’ national security argument.
The same day, reporters were still denied from covering certain White House activity, including portions of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s meeting with President Trump at a state-dinner.
The dispute also affected how television networks covered presidential activity. CNN is one of five major networks that rotate responsibility of covering White House events for television and distributing them to other networks. After CNN was excluded from its press pool responsibilities, the other major television networks like Fox News and ABC declined to provide normal pool coverage, standing in solidarity with its fellow journalists.
“This could set a hazardous precedent for future journalists like the ones at Newswire because it instills the fear that one day we may have our own voices silenced. Our right to free speech should be strengthened and held with the utmost respect, no diminished and disregarded,” Guffey said.
The on-going criticisms of journalists by President Trump is nothing they haven’t faced before. Trump has previously insulted reporters during press conferences and on live television, even telling a woman “Quiet piggy” after she had questioned him about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
As the case unfolds, the White House will continue to fight against journalists who may disagree with their policy or use of power. The freedom to express opinion or speak is now held in the hands of the justice system, with a pending decision that could affect each and every American.
The restraining order is set to expire on Oct. 8, so news organizations will be required to file preliminary injunctions to extend their protection.