Three media groups President Donald Trump sought to ban from the White House press pool asked a federal judge to extend a restraining order blocking the president from instituting the restrictions.
The saga began Sept. 18, when Trump announced the ban due to his belief that CNN, MS Now, and Politico are “fake news” outlets that “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States.” The three outlets sued, leading U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to reinstate their access for 14 days while the legal challenge proceeds.
CNN, MS Now, and Politico this week urged the judge, who was appointed by Trump, to extend that temporary restraining order. They argued the ban marks an “unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms.”
“The White House’s words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO if allowed the opportunity,” the court filing read.
”Because the ban is an unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms and will inflict irreparable harm on Plaintiffs and the public if not restrained, this Court should preliminarily enjoin its enforcement pending the resolution of this case,” it continued.
The president has argued that the outlets “purposely write negative news” about his administration because “ they want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration.”
“If they could straighten themselves out, I’d love it,” he said Friday.
TRUMP BANS CNN, MS NOW, AND POLITICO FROM WHITE HOUSE
When pressed on whether he could win this battle against the media outlets, Trump said, “We’ll see.”
“I think it’s good to point it out whether it survives or doesn’t. I mean, I don’t think a court should allow — depends on the judge you get to be honest with you — I don’t think that a court should allow fake news to be written day after day after day,” the president said. “I think that somebody has a right to keep them away if they’re going to write false stories all the time.”
