Judge temporarily overturns Trump's White House media ban

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate access to the White House for three news organisations barred from the building last week by the president.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico must have their access restored for 14 days, the judge ruled, saying the ban "likely violated their constitutional due process rights". Some reporters from the outlets said they were turned away on Thursday morning.

The three outlets launched a legal challenge after their reporters were denied access last weekend.

The administration had defended the move in court, accusing the outlets of publishing false information and threatening national security.

It was unclear whether all reporters from the outlets would be readmitted to the White House early on Thursday morning. CNN said some of their reporters had been denied, and others allowed in. MS Now said a reporter was also stopped from entering and a Politico reporter said they had been turned away.

The White House is yet to comment on the ruling, and lawyers acting for the president may take further legal action.

Judge Timothy Kelly ruled , external CNN, Politico and MS NOW were "likely to succeed" in showing the White House had not exercised "adequate due process" in implementing the ban.

He also cast doubt on the Trump administration's arguments that the bans were motivated by national security concerns, pointing out the president made no mention of that in his initial announcement.