Court ruling on Capitol steps threatens Trump's White House media bans
A D.C. Circuit panel ruled that the Capitol's East Steps are a nonpublic forum, requiring viewpoint-neutral restrictions, which could undermine President Trump's effort to bar several news outlets from the White House.
A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the East Steps of the Capitol constitute a nonpublic forum, similar to most areas of the White House grounds, and therefore any restrictions on access must be viewpoint neutral, follow objective standards, and avoid unchecked discretion. The majority opinion, written by Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, and supported by Judge Karen Henderson, warned that arbitrary control over who may speak invites suppression of unpopular views and erodes First Amendment protections.
This ruling comes as President Donald Trump has already barred several critical outlets, including MS NOW, several outlets, from White House coverage, claiming they spread false and defamatory stories. In parallel, Trump has launched a personal 24/7 news stream called Trump TV to showcase his administration's highlights. Columnist James Ball suggested the bans may be a tactic to energize Trump's supporters amid waning enthusiasm. The court's decision could force the administration to revise or abandon its media exclusion policy.
Why it matters
The ruling challenges the president's ability to exclude critical news outlets, affecting press freedom and government transparency.
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