The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Court case

Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:18-cv-02610, filed 13 November 2018

Engraving of a bundle of papers tied with ribbon on courthouse steps

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 5 sources.

Caption
Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump
Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Court level
trial court
Docket
1:18-cv-02610
Filed
2018-11-13
Decided
2018-11-16
Status
dismissed

What the court held

Judge Timothy J. Kelly granted CNN a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate Jim Acosta's hard pass, on due process grounds drawn from Sherrill v. Knight. The White House restored the pass and CNN dropped the suit.123

Status as of 2026-09-22: Dismissed.123

Incidents

Documents and reporting

  1. White House revokes press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta archived copyNPR, 2018-11-07, reporting. Source record
  2. Jim Acosta: White House pulls CNN reporter's pass after Trump press conference archived copyCNN, 2018-11-07, reporting. Source record
  3. Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump, docket 1:18-cv-02610CourtListener / Free Law Project, 2018-11-13, opinion. Source record
  4. Judge reinstates Acosta press passFreedom of the Press Foundation, 2018-11-16, reporting. Source record
  5. White House restores Jim Acosta's press pass, CNN drops lawsuitYahoo News / AP, 2018-11-19, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Judge Timothy J. Kelly granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order on November 16, 2018.Federal Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration on Friday to temporarily reinstate CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials.Judge reinstates Acosta press pass, Freedom of the Press Foundation, 2018-11-16.Claim 17, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. Judge Kelly granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate Acosta's hard pass.Timothy Kelly, the federal judge presiding over CNN's case against the president, seemed to accept with that reasoning when he granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order on FridayJudge reinstates Acosta press pass, Freedom of the Press Foundation, 2018-11-16.Claim 18, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. The White House told Acosta "your hard pass is restored," and CNN said the lawsuit was "no longer necessary."your hard pass is restored,White House restores Jim Acosta's press pass, CNN drops lawsuit, Yahoo News / AP, 2018-11-19.Claim 19, checked 2026-09-22.