Trump’s White House media ban is overturned by the judge, who also orders access to be reinstated.

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that US President Donald Trump‘s ban on journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico was probably unlawful and ordered him to allow them back into the White House. US District Judge Tim Kelly issued his ruling in a case that news organizations filed challenging the ban that the Republican president declared on September 18, which was a significant setback for Trump in one of his largest conflicts with the media.

Kelly prohibited personnel from implementing the restriction for 14 days and directed the Trump administration to promptly return the outlets’ press permits. The administration claimed that national security considerations were the driving force behind the prohibition, but the judge dismissed this claim.

“The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard ⁠passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds,” he said, adding that Trump himself had stated the ban was due to “alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity” of the outlets’ reporting.

Trump had stated on social media that the three publications “shouldn’t be able to constantly publish or report FICTION and LIES,” and attorneys for the Justice Department had attempted to defend the prohibition on the basis of national security.

The three publications filed a lawsuit against Trump and other members of his administration in federal court in Washington on Monday, claiming that the ban violated their due process rights and the First Amendment’s guaranties of free speech and the press. While their legal challenge is pending, they asked for a temporary restraining order that would instantly restore their access to the White House.

Only a few weeks before the midterm elections on November 3, when Trump’s fellow Republicans are vying for control of Congress, the judicial dispute has taken place. Opinion polls show that Trump’s job approval ratings are at all-time lows due to worries about things like inflation and the Iran War.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Kelly stated that two rulings from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit established that journalists have a right to due process prior to the revocation of their White House press passes. The judge went on to say that it didn’t seem like the White House had given the targeted news organizations a significant chance to challenge the removal of their access.

A lawyer for the news outlets argued that the revocation of press passes lacked required notice and opportunity to contest, calling it unprecedented and severe. A Justice Department lawyer countered that adequate explanations were provided post-revocation. The judge expressed skepticism regarding the timing of the letters.

The Justice Department claimed access to the White House is a privilege, asserting presidential authority to suspend it. A coalition of press freedom groups and news organizations supported the outlets, stating that removing journalists’ rights based on editorial viewpoint contradicts Supreme Court jurisprudence.