Judge weighs restoring journalists' White House access after Trump administration ban

A federal judge is considering whether to reinstate press access to the White House for three media organisations banned by the Trump administration, after attorneys on both sides clashed in court over the constitutional protections afforded to journalists.

Lawyers representing the White House and the banned outlets argued their respective positions before the court on Wednesday, with the central dispute focusing on whether the exclusion of credentialed reporters from the property violated constitutional rights.

The hearing marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the administration and sections of the press corps, with the outcome likely to set a precedent for how far executive authority can extend over media access to government facilities.