White House and DOJ Push Back Against Media Outlets' Lawsuit

WHO:

NBC News - The Justice Department (DOJ), CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are involved in the lawsuit.

Alternet - President Trump is the central figure in the media ban.

WHAT:

NBC News - The DOJ argues that media access to White House grounds is a privilege, not a right.

Alternet - Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, leading to a civil lawsuit from these media outlets.

Alternet - The DOJ filed a response to the lawsuit, defending Trump's media ban as justified due to the outlets' publication of sensitive information.

WHERE:

NBC News - The events are taking place at the White House.

WHEN:

Alternet - The DOJ's court filing occurred on September 22.

Alternet - A hearing regarding the lawsuit is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday.

WHY:

NBC News - The DOJ claims that the media outlets have failed to maintain basic minimum "standards of professionalism and decorum."

Alternet - The DOJ justifies the ban by citing the outlets' coverage of sensitive topics, including the state of the war with Iran and U.S. munitions.

HOW:

Alternet - The DOJ's filing includes letters sent to each outlet, citing specific stories as the basis for the ban, although the letters are unsigned and lack official letterhead.

Alternet - Attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. criticized the DOJ's arguments as "exceptionally weak" and expressed anticipation for the hearing.

(UPDATED September 23, 2026 13:05 UTC)

President Trump is at the center of a civil lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico after he banned these media outlets from the White House, with the Justice Department arguing that media access is a privilege rather than a right. The DOJ has defended Trump's media ban, claiming the outlets failed to uphold basic standards of professionalism and decorum, particularly in their coverage of sensitive topics like the war with Iran. A hearing regarding this lawsuit is set for 3:30 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday, where Attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. has criticized the DOJ's arguments as "exceptionally weak."