Judge extends White House access for CNN, MS NOW, Politico amid legal fight

Kelly's order last month gave theCNN, MS NOWand. Politicojournalists access to the White House grounds on a temporary basis. The judge issued a ruling called a preliminary injunction on Tuesday that will remain in effect until he makes a final judgment in the lawsuit brought by the news organisations, unless an appeals court lifts his order.

Read:US networks halt Trump coverage over ban. Kelly wrote that Trump's public remarks made clear that he banned the news outlets because he considered their reporting biased and inaccurate, and not because of national security concerns as government lawyers later asserted in court.

"Simply put, that is unlawful viewpoint discrimination," the judge wrote, adding that "no one should read this decision as suggesting that President Trump’s complaints are meritless. "Trump appointed Kelly in 2017 during his first presidential term.

Campaign against the media. Past presidents have battled with the press, but Trump's campaign against the media has been unprecedented. He has upended decades of tradition by ​denying basic access to many major news organisations, launchingpersonal attacks on journalistsfor their reporting and elevating media outlets seen as more sympathetic to the administration.

He also has filed lawsuits against multiple news outlets. Trump announcedthe banin September on his social ​media platform, sayingCNN, Politico, andMS NOW"shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the president of the United States.

" The Justice Department has emphasised ​Trump's contention that the ban is legally justified on national security grounds. Read More:CNN defends reporter following personal attacks by Trump, White House.

The outlets have said the revocation of their White House passes was unlawful retaliation for their news coverage and accused the Trump administration of manufacturing meritless national security concerns to justify the ban.

The outletssaid in a lawsuitthat the ban violated the US ⁠Constitution's First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and a free press, as well as their rights to due process, meaning fair treatment from the government. The White House on September 24 reinstated theCNN, MS NOWand.

Politicojournalists after Kelly decided the ban "likely violated their constitutional due process rights," and ordered their access immediately restored. 'Coerce better coverage'The judge held a hearing on October 8 to hear arguments by the news outlets and the Justice Department over whether to extend the protection for the journalists against being barred from the White House.

The Justice Department defended the bans as fair and justified. "Here we have the unusual situation where the president himself has said he wants to chill speech. He wants to coerce better coverage," Theodore Boutrous, an attorney for the outlets,.

Also Read:News outlets ask US court to block Trump White House ban beyond 14-day order"CNN, MS NOWand. Politicoengaged in apparently indefensible conduct," Justice Department lawyer Michael Velchik said. The legal battle is being waged just weeks before the November 3US midterm electionsin which Trump's ‌fellow Republicans ⁠are fighting to retain control of Congress.

Trump's job approvalratings are at record lowsin opinion polls amid concerns over issues such as inflation andthe Iran war.