The Trump administration can limit journalists from accessing certain areas of the White House based on their viewpoints, a federal appeals court said on Friday.
In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit overruled a decision from a federal judge requiring the White House give the Associated Press full access to covering the president.
"The White House is likely to succeed on the merits because these restricted presidential spaces are not First Amendment fora opened for private speech and discussion. The White House therefore retains discretion to determine, including on the basis of viewpoint, which journalists will be admitted," the decision said.
Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas – both Trump appointees – said that forcing the White House to give the Associated Press full access "impinges on the President's independence and control over his private workspaces."
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Cornelia Pillard said her colleagues' decision may leave lasting damage to the freedom of the press and prevent "factually accurate journalism unflattering" of the president.
"Purporting to respect the First Amendment while allowing exclusion of journalists from the Press Pool based on viewpoint will quickly erode the independence of any press outlet hoping to retain the chance to cover the White House at close range," she wrote.
-ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Steven Portnoy