Judge extends restraining order blocking Trump’s media ban 

Published October 8, 2026 3:11pm ET | Updated October 8, 2026 3:11pm ET



A federal judge on Thursday extended a restraining order blocking President Donald Trump from banning several media outlets from the White House press pool.

Trump sought to bar CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the press pool last month, accusing them of “fake news” reporting. The ban triggered a lawsuit by the three outlets alleging violations of their First Amendment rights. While the Justice Department sought to justify Trump’s ban based on national security concerns, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued an order temporarily reinstating the outlets’ access as the case plays out in court.

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