Federal Judge Orders White House To Endure Journalism

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly dealt a severe blow to executive tranquility Tuesday by ordering the White House to continue admitting reporters who might describe what happens there. Kelly, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017, extended protections for White House access granted to CNN, MSNBC and Politico while their lawsuit proceeds. Trump had barred the outlets on September 18 for publishing coverage he disliked rather than converting each presidential statement into commemorative needlepoint suitable for display above the nation’s fireplace.

The ruling recklessly revived the antiquated theory that constitutional rights cannot be distributed according to Nielsen ratings, favorable headlines or the president’s current emotional weather. Kelly found that Trump’s public remarks suggested the ban was retaliation for unfavorable reporting, not the national-security rationale administration lawyers later located beneath a stack of unused ethics manuals. “This is a very dangerous ruling because reporters could now enter the White House, observe events and tell people what they saw,” Trump said. “Pretty soon, every president will be expected to tolerate questions, facts and possibly even follow-up questions. Nobody has ever seen tyranny like this.” White House officials emphasized that the First Amendment was written before cable news, social media and the discovery that criticism can be avoided by declaring critics enemies of the state.

Press-freedom extremists welcomed the decision, maintaining that Americans deserve several accounts of their government instead of one laminated version approved by the government itself. The restored reporters are expected to resume their destabilizing activities immediately, including taking notes, comparing new statements with old statements and asking why publicly funded buildings cannot operate like private birthday parties. The White House has not announced whether it will appeal or replace press credentials with loyalty punch cards awarding one Oval Office visit after 10 published compliments. Kelly’s ruling nevertheless leaves the administration facing an intolerable constitutional burden: government officials may now be observed while governing. The First Amendment is therefore an unconstitutional intrusion on presidential comfort.

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