<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Reporters from <em><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/politico/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Politico</a></em> were barred from boarding <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/air-force-one/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Air Force One</a> on Monday afternoon as a federal judge considers a legal dispute that began last month after President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> banned it, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/cnn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNN</a>, and MS Now from the White House.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Politico</em> was scheduled to be part of the out-of-town <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/press/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press</a> pool and travel with the president to Nebraska as part of his midterm campaign tour, but reporters from the outlet were not allowed to board the presidential aircraft.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The situation began on September 18 when <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4733928/trump-bans-cnn-politico-msnow-from-white-house/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trump announced</a> on social media that <em>Politico</em>, CNN, and MS Now were banned from the White House for reporting “FICTION and LIES.” Reporters from these outlets were denied access to White House grounds the following day.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The outlets <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4735475/cnn-politico-ms-now-sue-trump-white-house-ban/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a> against the administration on September 21, claiming that the ban violated the First Amendment. They sought both preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent the enforcement of the president’s ban.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump nominee, ordered the administration to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4737531/judge-orders-white-house-temporarily-restore-media-access-blocked-outlets/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reinstate the reporters’ credentials</a> on September 24, temporarily halting the president’s ban for 14 days. Reporters were allowed on the grounds that afternoon after ABC News, which was listed as the White House TV pool that day, suspended its coverage until CNN reporters were permitted access. This occurred during a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the reinstatement of credentials, CNN has <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4743878/cnn-barred-air-force-one-pool-trump-tennessee-trip/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">been repeatedly barred</a> from fulfilling its out-of-town pool duties. Trump stated in a recent interview with <em>Time</em> magazine that allowing the outlets access to the White House grounds, as ordered by Kelly, is different from allowing them access to the Oval Office or Air Force One.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With less than a week remaining in Kelly’s halt on the ban, the three media groups petitioned the federal judge to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4746404/cnn-ms-now-politico-ask-judge-extend-order-pausing-trump-ban/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">extend the restraining order</a> blocking the president from implementing the restrictions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The White House’s words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and <em>POLITICO</em> if allowed the opportunity,” the court filing states.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the same day, Trump criticized the <em>New York Times</em> for what he described as unfair coverage of his visit to Ohio over the weekend, suggesting that journalists should be arrested.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Ohio Arena was already full to the brim — And yet these people were still trying to get in,” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117389593495407380" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trump wrote</a> alongside a video showing a line outside. “The New York Times said, ‘There were empty seats’ when, in fact, there were none, and thousands of people had to be turned away. The New York Times, and many other Artificial Media Outlets, should be arrested for their dishonesty and disservice to our Country. When Bernie Sanders has 500 to 1,000 people, they make it sound like it’s the biggest event that ever took place. When PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP has 50,000 people, they make it sound like nobody showed up!”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Saturday, the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/justice-department/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Justice Department</a> requested that Kelly <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4753066/doj-petition-judge-reinstate-white-house-ban-media-after-temporary-administration-block/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reinstate the ban</a>, arguing that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4753556/left-wing-media-blame-cornell-rape-case-on-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RIGHT ON CUE, LEFT-WING MEDIA BLAME THE CORNELL RAPE CASE ON TRUMP</a></strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">CNN, MS Now, and <em>Politico</em> had previously been granted “privileged access” to the White House, but Trump determined they had failed to meet “basic minimum standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex,” including by “publishing sensitive or classified information.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <em>Washington Examiner</em> reached out to <em>Politico</em> and the White House for comment.</p>