Key facts
- Attorney General Blanche stated the president has the right to decide who travels on Air Force One.
- CNN was blocked from traveling with President Trump on Air Force One.
- A federal judge ordered the restoration of White House credentials for Politico, CNN, and MS NOW.
- Judge Timothy Kelly questioned the White House's national security rationale for restricting press access.
Attorney General Blanche asserted that the president has the authority to determine who can travel on Air Force One and access the White House. Blanche's comments came after the White House blocked CNN from its rotating television press pool on Saturday. President Trump echoed this sentiment on Truth Social, stating that "FAKE NEWS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!"
This restriction followed a decision by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who granted a temporary restraining order to reinstate White House credentials for Politico, CNN, and MS NOW. Judge Kelly expressed doubt regarding the White House's claim that national security was the primary motivation for revoking access, stating, "The Court is skeptical — at least on this record — that Defendants’ interest in safeguarding national security is the actual motivation."
During an interview, Blanche argued that there was a national security component to the ban, suggesting that inaccurate reporting by the press made the United States appear unfavorable to international allies. He stated, "It is for the protection of our country... so that when foreign leaders, when foreign governments, when citizens that are around the world hear what’s happening in the administration, that it happens to be accurate."