White House lets three outlets back in
White House restores access to media outlets banned by Trump after judge's order
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Warm-up
- How do you get most of your news? Why?
- Should leaders answer tough questions from reporters? Why or why not?
- What rules should a government have for media access?
Vocabulary
- ban
- An official order that stops someone from doing something
- restore
- To give back something that was taken away
- access
- The right or ability to enter a place or use something
- judge
- A public official who decides cases in a court
- unconstitutional
- Not allowed by a country’s highest law
- lawsuit
- A case brought to a court to solve a disagreement
- solidarity
- Support shown by people who act together for a cause
- confiscate
- To take something away with official power
Reading
CNN, Politico and MS NOW were let back into the White House after a judge said President Donald Trump’s ban was likely unconstitutional and ordered access restored. Judge Timothy Kelly said the ban probably broke due process and told officials to return the outlets’ press passes and stop enforcing the ban for 14 days. The outlets had been seeking an emergency hearing because reporters were turned away and their badges were confiscated. The director of White House Operations said the passes were restored by 09:45. The standoff had limited TV coverage as Trump welcomed China’s President Xi Jinping for a state dinner. The White House first called the reports “fake news”, then cited national security, but the judge questioned that claim. Some networks have been showing solidarity by pausing coverage and have not said when they will return. The outlets said their lawsuit will continue.
Comprehension
- Which three outlets regained access to the White House?
- Who ordered the access to be restored?
- How long did the judge halt enforcement of the ban?
- What time did officials say the passes were restored?
- Why did some networks pause coverage from the White House?
Grammar focus
Present perfect continuous
Use have/has + been + verb-ing to show an action that started in the past and is still continuing now. (Example 2 constructed.)
- Some networks have been showing solidarity.
- Journalists have been gathering outside the gates.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence using the present perfect continuous.
- Staff (check) ___ badges since 09:45 this morning.
- Reporters (seek) ___ comment from officials all morning.
- Officials (discuss) ___ the court's order for days.
- The outlets (pause) ___ coverage lately.
- TV crews (film) ___ limited footage recently.
Discussion
- Is it right to ban media from government events? Why?
- When can national security limit press access, if ever?
- How should judges balance press freedom and security?
- Would media in your country act in solidarity like this?
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