CNN Challenges White House's Sworn 9:55 Press-Pass Timeline After Reporter Is Denied Entry at 11

CNN has accused the White House of giving a misleading account to a federal court over when banned media outlets' press credentials were restored, after one of its reporters was still turned away from the complex hours after officials said badges had been made available for collection.

Betsy Klein was still refused entry on Thursday morning in Washington, despite a declaration from Micah Stopperich, director of White House Press Operations, stating that credentials had been 'dropped at the entry gate for members of the press to pick up around 9.55am'.

The filing did not explain the delay, nor why Secret Service agents had confiscated the passes in the first place.

The dispute follows an overnight ruling by US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who found that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were likely to succeed in showing that the revocation of their White House press credentials violated their due process rights.

Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the outlets' hard passes to be 'immediately restored', questioning the administration's justification that their coverage posed a national security risk.

Kelly said the standard cited by the administration was 'so vague it hardly does the trick', noting that the national security argument emerged only after Trump complained about unfavourable reporting. The ruling was a temporary order rather than a final determination on the outlets' underlying claims.

Reporters Blocked Despite Court Order

Journalists from all three outlets told the court that Secret Service agents had confiscated their credentials even after Kelly's order took effect, prompting the organisations to request an emergency hearing.

Klein and MS NOW's Laura Barrón-López were eventually allowed back onto the grounds around midday, with Politico confirming one of its correspondents also regained access.

The White House's own filing, submitted shortly before a 12.30pm deadline, said only that reinstating disabled badges had taken time. CNN continued to report that its journalists were being denied access after the White House said the badges had been made available.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN's chief White House correspondent, wrote on X that the outlets were 'still being blocked' even as Chinese state media covered President Xi Jinping's high-profile visit to Washington.

The comparison came as press freedom advocates questioned whether the administration was complying with the court order.

Conor Fitzpatrick of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said 'court orders are not optional', warning that refusal to comply could constitute contempt and 'a dangerous escalation'.

Bruce D Brown of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press called Kelly's ruling 'an important win for the American public', adding that the priority now was ensuring 'the administration honours the injunction'.

TV Pool Protest Disrupts XI Visit

The row has also disrupted the White House press pool. After CNN was removed from the rotation on Monday, CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News suspended their own participation in protest, limiting video coverage of Xi's visit from the major US television networks.

At Joint Base Andrews, where Trump welcomed the Chinese leader, camera crews from Fox, CBS and NBC were present but did not film.

NewsNation, Newsmax, Right Side Broadcasting Network, One America News and LindellTV did shoot footage, while the Associated Press supplied video to clients without streaming it on its own platforms.

A print pool report noted that Trump told Chinese officials they had 'the friendliest press corps', a remark that contrasted with the difficulties faced by American journalists trying to regain access to the White House that morning. The dispute over access unfolded as Trump hosted Xi for the high-profile visit.

Under Kelly's schedule, CNN, MS NOW and Politico have until Monday, 28 September, to seek a preliminary injunction extending their access beyond the 14-day order. The administration must respond by 2 October, with the outlets due to reply by 5 October, while the judge has said he intends to act 'expeditiously'.