Toggle Daily
Justice Department defends Trump's ban on three outlets at the White House
September 23, 2026
The Justice Department asks a federal court to reject a lawsuit over Trump's White House ban on CNN, MS Now and a third outlet, citing security and decorum.
Federal judges in Washington have several times ordered press access restored after past administrations moved to limit which reporters could work at the White House.
Key facts
- The Justice Department is pressing the president's authority, yet the federal court in Washington, DC, has restored White House press access for journalists several times after past administrations tried to revoke it.
- The letters pointed to coverage of the White House ballroom build and an associated military security complex, munitions stocks used in the Iran war, a reported FBI leak inquiry that involved a journalist, and Russia sanctions.
- The DOJ said, “After all, access to the White House is a privilege—not a right.”
NPR reports that the Justice Department, in a Tuesday filing, defends Trump's decision to bar CNN, MS Now and a third outlet from White House grounds. The department says their coverage put national security at risk and spread falsehoods, and it cites a lapse in professionalism and decorum along with the publication of sensitive or classified material. NBC News and CNN carry the same core account.
NBC News lists the coverage named in the government's letters: work on the ballroom and the military security complex tied to it, stocks of munitions for the fighting with Iran, an FBI inquiry into a suspected leak that touches a journalist, and penalties on Russia. The Justice Department argues that entry to the White House is a privilege and not a right. NBC News and NPR also report that Trump, answering a reporter in the Oval Office, said, "Very simple ban. I don’t want them in my office. I don’t want them here."
CNN adds legal context the others give less weight: federal judges in Washington have restored press access several times when past administrations pulled it. The outlets agree on the filing, its reasons and Trump's remarks. The court's answer is the open part.
Asked about it by a reporter in the Oval Office soon afterward, Trump called the measure “the ban on the free press” and said, “Very simple ban. I don’t want them in my office. I don’t want them here.”
the White House
Still developing
The lawsuit against the media ban had not moved as of the draft.
How settled the reporting is
Sources
- cnn.com — Defending reporter ban, Justice Department argues stories on Trump’s ballroom project, Iran war threaten national security
- NBC News — CNN, Politico and MS NOW to face off with Trump administration in court over White House ban
- NPR — DOJ defends White House media ban, urges court to reject lawsuit
Toggle read the full reports of all 4 outlets counted on this event.