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Trump Tells Alaska Republican To Drop Out—But Candidate Pushes Back

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

President Donald Trump is pressing former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson to leave Alaska’s governor’s race, warning that a crowded Republican field could hand Democrats an opening in November.

Speaking with Fox News after his Tuesday rally in Wasilla, Trump urged Bronson to step aside for Bernadette Wilson, the Republican candidate he endorsed earlier that day.

“He doesn’t have to, but he should, because, frankly, he lost in the primary by substantial numbers to Bernadette,” Trump told Fox News.

Wilson finished as the top Republican in Alaska’s August primary. She now faces Bronson, fellow Republican Treg Taylor and Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the contest to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Trump made clear that he sees the three-way Republican competition as a liability.

“So now you have three Republicans running against one Democrat. And I don’t like that. I don’t like those odds very much,” he told Fox News.

“But there, she’s great, and maybe she’ll get in, but I thought I had an obligation to endorse her.”

A Disputed Deal To Step Aside

Trump’s call for Bronson to withdraw followed a sharper accusation on Truth Social: that the former mayor had already agreed to leave the race, then reversed course.

According to the Alaska Beacon, Trump claimed Bronson sought his endorsement and agreed to withdraw at the president’s request, only to abandon that commitment three days later.

Bronson disputed that account.

Speaking with Alaska’s News Source at the rally, Bronson said the president’s recollection was “different from mine.”

Bronson described discussions about consolidating the Republican field, including a proposal that Trump endorse him and ask his rivals to stand down. He said the arrangement never came together.

“The deal didn’t unfold the way it was supposed to, so I stayed in the race,” Bronson told the station.

Why Three Republicans Are Still Running

Alaska’s election system helps explain the crowded field.

The state holds a nonpartisan primary in which the top four candidates advance regardless of party. Wilson’s position as the leading Republican therefore did not eliminate Bronson or Taylor—or make her the sole Republican nominee.

The general election uses ranked-choice voting. Voters can rank multiple candidates, allowing their votes to transfer to another choice if their preferred candidate is eliminated. That means three Republicans on the ballot do not automatically produce the same vote-splitting problem as a traditional plurality election.

The political concern is whether Republican voters will use those additional rankings.

The Alaska Beacon reported that Bronson and Taylor have encouraged voters to rank all three Republicans. Dunleavy also urged support for the Republican candidates at Tuesday’s rally, while Trump pushed for unity behind Wilson and backed repeal of the state’s election system.

The pressure comes as the race grows more competitive. Cook Political Report moved Alaska’s governor’s contest from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat” on Tuesday, according to additional reporting from The Washington Post.

Kimberly Guilfoyle Asked To Resign As Ambassador To Greece

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald Trump has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece, moving to push out a longtime political ally and his eldest son’s former fiancée amid mounting allegations involving money, access and her conduct overseas.

New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia announced the decision Tuesday during her first briefing.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”

The announcement followed Trump’s blunt assessment Monday when reporters asked whether he was considering firing Guilfoyle.

“We’re looking at it. We’re not happy,” the president said.

A Six-Figure Credit Card Request

The controversy escalated after The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 directly to American Express before her Senate confirmation hearing last year.

“It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express,” she allegedly wrote on Signal, according to messages reviewed by the newspaper.

The Journal reported that Deters was seeking help with tax and legal matters and that Guilfoyle had communicated with administration officials on his behalf.

Deters subsequently told ABC News that he understood the request as an exchange of money for access to senior Trump officials. He said he did not make the payment.

Guilfoyle’s attorney disputed the messages’ authenticity and suggested the requested money could have represented reimbursement for travel and speaking expenses. Deters denied owing her money.

Deep Ties To The Trump Family

Guilfoyle’s relationship with the Trumps extended well beyond politics.

The former Fox News personality began dating Donald Trump Jr. in 2018, and the couple became engaged in 2020. Their split became public in late 2024, around the time Trump selected her for the diplomatic post.

Announcing that selection in December 2024, Trump described Guilfoyle as “a close friend and ally.”

She also helped lead fundraising for Trump’s 2020 campaign, becoming a familiar figure in his political operation.

Scrutiny Beyond The Donor Allegations

The credit card controversy followed questions about Guilfoyle’s activities in Athens.

In an October 1 letter, House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking Democrat Gregory Meeks asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address reports that Guilfoyle promoted a Greek company’s commercial interests and included its paid lobbyist in official diplomatic meetings.

Meeks also cited reporting that she suggested Washington could use its influence to undermine Greece’s government, calling for her removal if the allegations were accurate.

A separate Journal report described a recording from Davos in which Guilfoyle allegedly said wealthy Greek businessmen were financing her travels. Her lawyers have denied wrongdoing and said her travel received State Department approval, according to the Financial Times.

Tuesday’s announcement confirmed that the White House had requested her resignation. It did not establish that she had submitted it or specify an effective departure date.

The Last Republican President? Trump Makes Grim Prediction

By
Madeleine Jackson
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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to Republicans Monday night: Lose Congress, then the White House, and the GOP could be locked out of the presidency for good.

Speaking at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump argued that Democrats would use a return to power to reshape Congress, expand the Supreme Court and tilt the electoral map against Republicans.

“I will be the last Republican president because they will add about twelve more electoral votes,” Trump said, according to The Hill.

“They’ll add four more senators. They’ll add ten more congresspeople, approximately,” he continued. “They’re gonna rig the Supreme Court through just a lot of people.”

His warning stretched beyond November’s midterms. Trump was describing a scenario in which Democrats control both chambers of Congress and reclaim the White House in 2028, Mediaite reported.

Trump Takes Aim At Court Expansion

Trump claimed Democrats’ ambitions for the Supreme Court go much further than the 13-seat expansion proposal backed by some party lawmakers.

“The real number that they dream of is 23,” Trump said, according to The Hill. “They say 13. Who wants 13?”

A 23-member court would mean adding 14 seats to the existing nine-member bench.

Democratic lawmakers have previously introduced legislation to expand the court to 13 justices. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) unveiled the Judiciary Act of 2023, arguing that expansion would restore the court’s legitimacy.

That proposal called for four additional seats. Trump’s claim that Democrats ultimately want 23 justices goes beyond the legislation those lawmakers put forward.

A Warning To His Own Party

Trump previously linked the same warning to D.C. and Puerto Rico statehood in September, Fox News reported.

On Monday, he also renewed his demand that Republicans eliminate the Senate filibuster to advance the SAVE Act, according to Mediaite. The outlet reported that the House-passed measure would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification when voting, but lacks the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate.

The president made his pitch while campaigning for Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. Husted faces former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a closely contested Senate race, Mediaite reported.

Both Husted and Ramaswamy have leaned on Trump to energize Republican voters, The Hill reported, even after his victories in Ohio in three consecutive presidential elections.

With November approaching, Trump is casting the stakes as bigger than congressional control: He says Republicans’ ability to win the White House again is on the line.

Trump And Rubio Weigh Guilfoyle’s Future As Donor Allegations Mount

By
Madeleine Jackson
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(Miami - Flórida, 09/03/2020) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro durante encontro com o Senador Marco Rubio..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

Kimberly Guilfoyle’s diplomatic career could be headed for an abrupt exit amid allegations that she asked a Trump donor to cover a six-figure credit card bill while offering help securing access to administration officials.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly considering removing the U.S. ambassador to Greece as questions mount over her financial dealings and conduct in Athens.

Fox News reported Sunday that a senior U.S. official described Trump and Rubio as “extremely pissed off,” citing an Associated Press report. The official said a decision would likely come this week after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday. No dismissal has been confirmed.

CNN separately reported that Trump is weighing Guilfoyle’s removal, citing a person familiar with the matter who said the president has been monitoring the allegations and is expected to decide soon.

The Credit Card Request

At the center of the controversy is a Wall Street Journal investigation into Guilfoyle’s communications with Eric Deters, a Trump donor and former Kentucky congressional candidate.

According to messages reviewed by the Journal, Guilfoyle asked Deters to send $100,000 directly to American Express shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. She allegedly presented the arrangement as a way to avoid a visible paper trail while offering assistance reaching senior administration officials.

Deters said he never made the payment. Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages, according to Fox News.

Her legal team also offered an explanation for the financial dispute. In a statement to CNN, her lawyers said Deters owed Guilfoyle money for speeches and consulting work performed before she entered public service. They characterized her efforts as collecting outstanding payments and rejected his accusations.

“Asking a client to pay for work already done is not corruption,” her lawyers told CNN.

Questions About Her Conduct In Greece

The donor allegations follow scrutiny of Guilfoyle’s dealings with Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group.

As detailed in the Fox News article, an earlier Journal investigation reported that Guilfoyle promoted the company’s interests and brought its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, into private diplomatic meetings with senior officials.

The Journal also alleged that Guilfoyle suggested during a dinner with Greek officials that Washington could undermine their government. That account is disputed: Greece’s foreign minister said there was no need to summon her for an explanation because the country’s energy minister denied that a threat had been made.

NBC News reported Friday that the State Department’s Office of Inspector General is investigating Guilfoyle and the embassy she leads, citing two people familiar with the decision.

Fox News, citing the Daily Mail, described additional allegations involving embassy employees, private travel, gifts and business relationships. Those claims included threats to fire staff and demotions of security personnel over minor incidents.

The inspector general’s office declined to confirm or deny an investigation. Binnall told the Daily Mail that “any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported,” according to Fox News.

Public Defense, Private Deliberations

Rubio publicly defended Guilfoyle’s performance during his visit to Greece last week.

“Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” he said Wednesday, according to Fox News. The following day, he pushed back on reporters treating anonymously sourced allegations as established facts.

Vice President JD Vance also urged caution Friday while leaving open the possibility of consequences.

“Let’s actually see what the facts are. Let’s see what the truth is,” Vance told reporters in Ohio, according to Fox News. He added that misconduct, if established, should carry consequences.

Congressional Democrats, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, have called for a review. Meeks urged Guilfoyle’s removal if the allegations are substantiated, Fox News reported.

Trump nominated Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor, Fox News personality and campaign fundraiser, in December 2024—the same month her split from Donald Trump Jr. became public.

Now, the former fiancée of the president’s eldest son faces an uncertain future in an administration whose senior leaders are reportedly weighing whether she should remain in Athens.

DHS Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s D.C. Home In Immigration Probe

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Federal immigration investigators raided the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) early Monday, bringing an ongoing criminal investigation to the doorstep of one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken congressional opponents.

According to The Daily Wire, the search involves immigration paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child. The progressive “Squad” member arrived in the United States as a Somali refugee in 1995 and became an American citizen in 2000.

The Justice Department confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations executed a court-authorized search warrant as part of an ongoing federal investigation. Axios also received confirmation from a DOJ spokesperson that agents conducted the search Monday morning.

CBS News independently confirmed the raid with three sources familiar with the investigation.

Search Follows Homan’s Confirmation Of Investigation

Monday’s operation follows border czar Tom Homan’s acknowledgment last month that federal investigators were examining allegations of immigration fraud involving Omar.

Speaking to Fox News in September, Homan declined to disclose investigative details but argued that a lawmaker’s position would not shield her from scrutiny.

“Regardless if they’re a congresswoman or not, no one’s above the law,” Homan said, according to The Daily Wire’s September reporting.

The allegations concern Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British citizen whom critics have alleged is her biological brother. The couple reportedly separated in 2011 and divorced in 2017.

Omar has denied the allegation, calling it “absurd and offensive.” Homan’s confirmation of an investigation did not establish that she committed fraud.

The reported scrutiny of documents completed during Omar’s childhood and the allegations surrounding her later marriage involve different periods of her life. Authorities have not publicly explained how those matters relate within the investigation.

Trump’s Earlier Attacks Return To Spotlight

Trump has repeatedly accused Omar of immigration wrongdoing and suggested she should be sent back to Somalia.

“I believe she married her brother, which is totally illegal,” Trump said at a rally earlier this year, according to The Daily Wire. Those remarks preceded Monday’s search and were not a response to the raid.

Omar has also denied committing immigration fraud. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that she rejected both allegations in an interview earlier this year.

White House Offers Katie Zacharia Job As Next Press Secretary

By
Madeleine Jackson
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White House image via Wikimedia Commons

The White House has offered conservative commentator Katie Zacharia the job of press secretary, moving toward filling one of President Donald Trump’s most visible positions weeks before the midterm elections.

A White House official confirmed the offer to Deadline on Friday. Whether Zacharia had accepted remained unclear in the initial reporting.

If she takes the job, Zacharia would succeed Karoline Leavitt, whose departure in August left an opening at the White House briefing room podium. Axios independently reported the offer, citing multiple sources familiar with it.

A Familiar Face In Conservative Media

Zacharia would arrive with experience defending Trump’s agenda on television and inside his administration.

A frequent Fox News guest, she previously worked as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. Her Republican résumé includes an internship at the Republican National Committee and work in the White House Office of Political Affairs during George W. Bush’s second term, according to the New York Post.

Her earlier stint at DHS was brief. Just the News reported in April that she left after roughly six weeks, citing the strain that regular travel between California and Washington placed on her family.

Zacharia nevertheless made clear that she intended to continue supporting Trump and his immigration policies in other capacities.

Following Leavitt’s Exit

Leavitt left the White House in August to spend more time with her family following the birth of her second child, the Post reported.

She has since lined up another prominent platform. Fox News Media announced Monday that Leavitt will join the network as a contributor beginning November 1, providing commentary and analysis. She served as Trump’s press secretary from January 2025 through August 2026 and was the youngest person to hold the position.

Trump Opens New Probe Into Lisa Cook, Orders White House Hearing

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump is taking another run at removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, creating a committee to investigate alleged false statements on mortgage documents and ordering a White House hearing two days after the midterm elections.

The presidential memorandum, dated October 7 and released Friday, directs the panel to determine whether the allegations provide legal grounds to remove Cook. She has denied wrongdoing and successfully challenged Trump’s earlier dismissal attempt.

A November 5 Showdown

The hearing is scheduled for November 5, will last no more than four hours and will be closed to the public, according to the White House memo. A transcript will be made.

Trump framed the inquiry as a matter of accountability, saying his responsibilities include firing “subordinates who cannot be trusted to tell the truth and follow the law.”

The committee consists of White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Andrea Lucas and acting Office of Government Ethics Director Keith Sonderling, ABC News reported.

The memo directs Cook to appear for questioning and requires the panel to provide her with the evidence beforehand. She may present arguments, written evidence and witness statements, and submit a final written response by November 10. The committee will then recommend whether grounds exist for her removal.

The Mortgage Allegations

The dispute began in August 2025, when then-Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte accused Cook of mortgage fraud and Trump sought to fire her.

According to Yahoo Finance’s reporting on Trump’s dismissal letter, the president alleged that Cook had identified a Michigan property as her primary residence and then made the same representation about a Georgia property in a separate agreement two weeks later.

Cook denied wrongdoing and sued to block her removal. The allegations remain disputed.

Pulte continued pressing the case publicly. During a May appearance on CNBC, he predicted Cook would eventually face an indictment regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, according to Mediaite. That was Pulte’s prediction, rather than an announced charging decision.

What the Supreme Court Actually Ruled

The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s effort to immediately remove Cook in June, leaving an injunction protecting her position in place while litigation continued.

The ruling did not establish a blanket prohibition on removing Federal Reserve governors. Federal law allows removal for cause, and the court concluded that Cook was entitled to notice and an opportunity to respond before being dismissed.

The justices resolved the application on the narrower ground that the administration had failed to provide the required procedural protections. They also made clear that a president’s determination of cause is subject to judicial review, according to the court’s opinion.

Cook’s Lawyers Push Back

Cook’s legal team questioned whether the new process would provide a fair hearing.

Her lawyers told Axios they had “grave doubts that this ‘hearing’ is a legitimate one that would conform to the law,” citing Trump’s previous statements that he had already decided to fire her.

The committee’s recommendation will put the removal question back before Trump. Whether the new process satisfies the court’s requirements—and whether the allegations justify dismissal—remain unresolved.

Trump Announces Major Milestone As Democrats Offer Rare Praise

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Abe McNatt)

President Donald Trump announced a major milestone for his signature investment initiative Wednesday, revealing that nearly 70 million American children now have Trump Accounts — a program that has even earned praise from some prominent Democrats.

“Today we celebrate our next historic, and that’s really what it is, step to ensure every American child has a fair shot at the American dream,” Trump said from the Oval Office, according to the White House.

The milestone follows the Treasury Department’s automatic enrollment of more than 60 million children beginning Oct. 1, adding to roughly 10 million accounts established after the program officially launched July 4.

The tax-advantaged investment accounts are now automatically established for eligible American children under 18 with valid Social Security numbers, although parents still need to claim the accounts to manage them and receive certain benefits.

Trump predicted the investments could give children a significant financial head start.

“So if all goes well, which I think it will, they’ll end up being quite rich by the time they’re 18 and then 21,” Trump said Wednesday, according to ABC News.

The administration says more than $4.5 billion has already been deposited into Trump Accounts since their July launch, including federal funding and contributions from families and philanthropists.

Children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, who meet eligibility requirements can receive a one-time $1,000 federal contribution. Family members, employers and others can also contribute to the accounts.

Billionaire philanthropists Michael and Susan Dell have pledged $6.25 billion toward the initiative, while dozens of major companies have announced plans to support accounts for employees’ children.

But perhaps more surprising than the scale of the program is who has been praising it.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, one of Trump’s most prominent Democratic critics and a frequently discussed potential 2028 presidential contender, encouraged families in his state to take advantage of the accounts.

“I’m enthusiastic about encouraging people to get a Trump account,” Newsom said during an August news conference, according to The New York Times.

“It’s one of the best things he’s done.”

Newsom also urged parents to look beyond the Trump branding.

“It’s not Trump’s money,” he said. “It’s your child’s money.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, another high-profile Democrat, has similarly described Trump Accounts as a “smart policy.”

“I will give this administration credit for this, is that we’ve had Democratic presidents and Republican presidents who have not been able to get this done, and it actually got done,” Moore said during a July radio interview, according to Fox News.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey has also supported the concept. Booker and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) introduced a similar proposal in 2023 that would have provided American children with $1,000 at birth.

Trump Accounts are not without critics. Some have argued that children from wealthier families could ultimately benefit more because their parents are able to make larger contributions.

Still, the administration says roughly 80% of Trump Accounts belong to children in families earning less than $200,000 annually.

For Trump, Wednesday’s announcement marked a significant expansion of one of his signature domestic programs — and one that has produced an unusual degree of bipartisan agreement.

“With automatic enrollment now complete, every American child under the age of 18 has a Trump Account in their name, making it easier than ever for families to participate,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.

Nearly 70 million children now have accounts waiting for them.

And in an increasingly rare occurrence in Washington, some of Trump’s potential political rivals are encouraging families to use them.

Trump’s 250-Foot Arch Faces Fresh Legal Fight As Virginia County Sues

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump’s push to build a towering triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery has hit another legal hurdle — this time from a neighboring county government.

The Arlington County Board filed suit Thursday in the Eastern District of Virginia, seeking to stop construction until federal officials complete what the county argues is a legally required environmental review.

According to the ABC News report, Arlington became the first governmental body to sue over the planned monument, adding a new challenge to a project already facing litigation from veterans and a historian.

The proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch would stand at Memorial Circle, on federal parkland between Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery.

County Accuses Administration Of Rushing Review

The lawsuit alleges the National Park Service is racing toward construction while treating the review process as a formality.

“The National Park Service, the agency responsible for projects on national park land such as Memorial Circle, is proceeding full-speed toward ground-disturbing construction,” the complaint states, according to ABC News.

The county wants the court to halt work until the agency adequately evaluates the project’s effects under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Arlington’s attorneys argue the review failed to sufficiently consider traffic congestion, emergency vehicle access and potential changes to aircraft operations at nearby Reagan National Airport. The county attorney’s office is pursuing the case with legal advocacy organization Democracy Forward.

“The Arlington County Board has filed this lawsuit because our community has the most to lose from this egregious and unlawful proposed project,” Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a statement.

Those allegations remain contested; filing the lawsuit does not itself stop construction.

Veterans’ Lawsuit And Safety Concerns Add Pressure

The county’s case opens another front in an existing legal battle.

Three veterans and an architectural historian have separately challenged the project in federal court in Washington, arguing that it requires congressional authorization and would obstruct historic views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

According to the supplied ABC News report, the judge overseeing that case has required the administration to provide 48 hours’ notice before undertaking construction-related activities.

The administration has previously argued that a century-old law concerning Arlington Memorial Bridge authorizes the arch. Justice Department lawyers have also challenged the plaintiffs’ standing and called that lawsuit premature, ABC News reported in June.

The project has also drawn objections from Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson, particularly after Trump announced plans to incorporate military uses.

Trump said in a September social media post that the arch would house drones, provide positions for snipers and store ammunition. He attributed the proposal to a military request; the Pentagon declined to comment when asked by ABC News.

Aviation concerns are disputed. ABC News reported in June that an initial FAA feasibility review found no significant adverse effect on airport airspace or flight procedures, while identifying a need for obstruction lighting and a subsequent full aeronautical study.

White House Defends The Monument

The White House continues to champion the project.

Officials told FOX 5 DC the arch would become an iconic landmark and improve the experience for veterans, military families and other visitors to Arlington National Cemetery.

Interior has also previously defended its review process, telling ABC News in September that it would follow applicable laws and regulations. The department said it had received more than 100,000 public comments and extended comment periods to encourage discussion.

Now Arlington is asking a federal judge to force a pause — raising another obstacle to Trump’s effort to reshape Washington’s skyline.

Trump-Appointed Judge Extends Block On White House Media Ban

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump’s effort to shut three news outlets out of the White House remains on hold — and a judge he appointed is weighing whether to keep it that way.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday extended a temporary order blocking the administration’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW, giving the outlets another reprieve while he considers a longer-lasting injunction.

The original 14-day order was scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Kelly extended it for “another two business days,” according to The Hill, with a ruling expected by Tuesday, October 13. TheWrap also reported that Kelly left the request for a preliminary injunction unresolved at Thursday’s hearing.

The dispute pits Trump’s claims of false reporting and national security risks against the outlets’ allegations that the president is punishing coverage he dislikes.

White House Defends Its Restrictions

The administration has defended the ban by citing national security concerns, anonymous sourcing and reporting it says contains falsehoods.

After imposing the restrictions, the White House sent letters identifying stories it said “threatened national security and/or spread falsehoods,” The Hill reported.

Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik argued Thursday that those letters provided sufficient notice and an opportunity for the organizations to respond, even though they declined to do so.

The outlets counter that the explanations came after Trump had already decided to exclude them.

Their attorney, Ted Boutrous, pointed to the president’s recent Time magazine interview as evidence that unfavorable coverage drove the decision. According to The Hill, Boutrous characterized Trump’s comments as a “confession” of his intent.

The organizations argue that restricting access because of their coverage amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.

Judge’s Earlier Ruling Focused On Due Process

Kelly’s initial order required the administration to restore the organizations’ press credentials. His reasoning focused on whether the White House provided adequate notice and an opportunity to challenge the restrictions before imposing them.

He found that the outlets were likely to succeed on their constitutional due process claim. He did not resolve their separate First Amendment arguments.

As TheWrap reported, Kelly initially blocked the ban on September 24 and questioned whether the administration had supplied sufficient evidence for its national security justification. Thursday’s extension keeps temporary protections in place while the broader legal fight continues.

Air Force One Access Remains A Flashpoint

Restoring press credentials has not ended the confrontation.

CNN and Politico have been excluded from Air Force One trips since Kelly’s initial ruling, according to The Hill and Mediaite. The outlets contend that those restrictions undermine their ability to cover the president and fulfill their assigned press pool duties.

The pool is a rotating group of journalists that covers presidential activities and shares reporting with other news organizations. Some broadcast networks temporarily withheld pool coverage after CNN was prevented from taking its assigned turn, The Hill reported.

The White House maintains that the president controls access to restricted spaces, including Air Force One and the Oval Office.

A White House official told The Hill this week that traveling aboard the presidential aircraft “is a privilege not a right.”

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