News outlets ask US court to block Trump White House ban beyond 14-day order

Major news organisations on Tuesday urged a federal court to extend its block on US President Donald Trump’s White House media ban beyond an initial 14-day order, seeking the restoration of press credentials while the legal battle continues.

In a joint legal filing submitted on Monday to the US District Court for the District of Columbia, CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked for a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from enforcing the ban.

They also sought to restore their journalists’ access to the White House and the president to the level it was before September 18.

The outlets argued that the ban amounted to unlawful retaliation under the First Amendment for critical reporting.

They also claimed it violated the Fifth Amendment’s due process protections by revoking journalists’ hard passes without prior notice, hearings or clear, objective criteria.

Trump announced the ban on Sept. 18, accusing the news organisations of spreading “fake news” and citing years of negative coverage.