President Trump told a CNN reporter she should not be covering him at the UN, as a legal battle continues over the administration's ban of several news outlets from White House grounds.
Key facts
- •President Trump told CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins she should not be covering him during his visit to the United Nations.
- •The administration banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds, citing negative coverage.
- •A joint lawsuit filed by the three outlets argues the ban is unconstitutional and based on the content of their reporting.
- •The White House responded to the lawsuit by arguing that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.
- •Major news organizations, including the Associated Press, suspended pool coverage and photo distribution in solidarity with the banned outlets.
President Donald Trump confronted CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations on Tuesday, telling her, “You should not be here covering me.” The exchange occurred as the administration continues to enforce a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds, a move that has prompted a joint lawsuit from the affected outlets. Trump claimed the network had previously stated it would not cover him, a claim Collins denied on air.
Legal Conflict Over Press Access
The administration’s ban, which also removed the affected networks from pool duty, was challenged in a lawsuit filed Monday. The news outlets argue the decision is selective and based on the content of their coverage, asking a judge to declare the move unconstitutional. In a response filed late Tuesday, the administration urged the court to reject the request, asserting that White House access is a privilege rather than a right and that officials maintain authority over restricted presidential areas.
Media Solidarity and Coverage Disruptions
In response to the ban, other major news organizations have taken collective action. Pool members refused to replace CNN on coverage duties, opting to suspend all pool coverage until further notice. Additionally, outlets including The Associated Press, The Washington Post, and The New York Times decided not to publish photographs of presidential events on Monday. Despite these actions, Trump’s activities remained visible through UNTV and other international coverage.
Presidential Stance on Media Coverage
Trump has defended the ban by citing “purposely negative stories,” which he labeled as dangerous for the country. When asked about the possibility of a court ruling against the White House, Trump expressed skepticism regarding the fairness of U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who is presiding over the case. Trump previously appointed Kelly in 2017, and the judge had ordered the restoration of a CNN journalist's access in a similar 2018 case.
Timeline
- FridayThe administration announced a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds.
- MondayThe affected news outlets filed a joint lawsuit challenging the ban as unconstitutional.
- TuesdayPresident Trump confronted a CNN reporter at the UN and the administration filed a legal response to the lawsuit.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ABC News Business.
