Six Citizens Sue Trump Over White House Press Restrictions, Citing the Public's Right to Know

On October 26, 2026, six U.S. citizens who rely on White House press coverage — including former Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth and Lawfare editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes — sued President Trump, chief of staff Susie Wiles, communications director Steven Cheung and Secret Service Director Sean Curran in federal court in New York. Represented by the Knight First Amendment Institute, the suit argues the administration's restrictions on outlets' White House access are viewpoint-based, unreasonable limits on a public forum that violate the First Amendment by depriving the public, not just reporters, of independent coverage of government. It seeks a declaration that the policy is unconstitutional and restored access.

The suit advances a novel theory: that citizens, as the intended audience of White House reporting, have their own First Amendment stake in press access. It is the fourth suit this year over such restrictions, following the Associated Press, the New York Times and a CNN/MS NOW/Politico coalition.

A White House official said no one may demand access to the Oval Office and that outlets "spreading misinformation" can report from outside. The case is pending in the Southern District of New York; no hearing date has been reported.