A federal judge began hearing arguments on Wednesday over whether CNN, MS NOW and Politico should regain access to the White House after President Donald Trump barred the three news organisations. The outlets said the ban violated the US Constitution's First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and a free press as well as their rights to due process.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, started a hearing in Washington to consider a request by CNN, MS NOW and Politico for a temporary restraining order that would immediately reinstate their White House access while a legal challenge they filed on Monday plays out.

Kelly said during the hearing that two precedents from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit make clear that journalists are entitled to due process before their White House press passes can be revoked. The judge added that it did not appear that the White House had given the three news outlets a meaningful opportunity to contest the revocation of their access.

"By ejecting and banning the plaintiffs from the White House without a semblance of due process here, defendants have imposed what really amounts to an unprecedented, unreasonable and severe punishment," attorney Theodore Boutrous said.