Donald Trump’s White House has defied a federal judge by confiscating reporters’ press credentials just hours after the court ordered the journalists to be allowed back in, marking a dramatic escalation in the administration’s clash with outlets it has accused of publishing “Fake News.”
At least two reporters were refused entry to the White House on Thursday, despite the judge’s ruling restoring access to the previously barred organizations.
The confrontation unfolded as Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng, at the White House, where he praised the “truly great friendship” between the two leaders.
Trump barred the outlets last Friday in an angry social media post accusing them of spreading “fake news.” Reports said his aide Natalie Harp had shown him a series of unfavorable reports from the organizations shortly before the ban was announced.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order early Thursday, effectively requiring the Trump administration to restore access for Politico, CNN and MS NOW, all of which had been banned by the president the previous Friday.
However, Politico reported that one of its reporters had their credentials seized on Thursday after the order permitting re-entry took effect. MS NOW also said one of its reporters had their credentials confiscated and was refused access.
The three organizations filed their lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, and the case has moved swiftly through the courts.
In a show of solidarity, major broadcasters including Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC have declined to cover the president. The networks make up the TV pool, which shares responsibility for covering presidential events on a rotating basis.
ABC News was scheduled to serve as the TV pool broadcaster for Thursday’s state visit by China’s president. However, the network refused to attend any events until the White House provided evidence that CNN journalists had been admitted, the Guardian reported.
Xi Jinping (2nd-L) and first lady of China Peng Liyuan (L) greet US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (R) during an arrival ceremony at the White House on September 24, 2026 in Washington, DC
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner reports outside the White House grounds after President Donald Trump banned MS Now, CNN, and Politico in a Truth Social post
When Trump and Melania welcomed Xi and Madame Peng at the airport on Wednesday, several broadcast crews packed away their cameras and observed the ceremony without recording it.
Despite the media blackout, Trump spoke warmly about the Chinese leader, pointing out that this was the first time Xi had been welcomed by him at the White House.
“We have spent time together all over the world,” he said.
Trump said the two men had “forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually” during those meetings.
The US president called his visit to Beijing earlier this year a “great privilege” and praised Xi’s “spectacular and very beautiful hospitality.”
He added that he and the first lady were “honoured to host you” at “the beautiful White House.”
Xi, meanwhile, said he and Trump had developed a “personal rapport” over the years and urged their governments to maintain communication.
The Chinese president acknowledged, however, that the dialogue between the two countries could be strengthened.
“We should strengthen communication,” Xi said. “China and the United States are different in national condition, but through candid, in-depth, and continued dialogue, our two countries can understand each other better, seek common ground, while shelving differences and build up mutual trust.”
Xi said he and Trump have pushed better communication among their lieutenants ‘in charge of foreign affairs, economic matters, financial cooperation and law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges.’
He added later that the nations’ militaries can ‘maintain regular dialogue’ as part of an overall relationship that involves ‘healthy’ competition that is ‘kept within bounds.’
The ban has resulted in a media blackout of Trump’s state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping, his wife, Peng Liyuan and US first lady Melania Trump listen to US President Donald Trump delivering remarks at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 24, 2026
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on the South Portico of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington
Trump’s week has been packed with major events from attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New York City to the historic state visit with Xi in Washington, which concludes on Friday.
The media blackout has prevented widespread coverage of the spectacles, and the broadcasters have mostly not taken any of the events live.
New media outlets like Real America’s Voice, a MAGA-friendly network, have filled the void with YouTube streams.
Given the ban on CNN and MS NOW, the broadcast tents they used to occupy on White House grounds are now vacant with their lights off, and correspondents have opted instead to shoot live shots from the streets outside the presidential residence.
It is unclear when the White House will officially restore the outlets’ credentials.
The Daily Mail contacted the White House for comment.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) released a blistering condemnation of the ban in the wake of the media crackdown.
‘The president said it plainly in the Oval Office, describing his own planned action as a ‘ban on the free press,” Jacqui Heinrich, WHCA president, said in a statement.
‘The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask.’
