Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Trump Tells CNN It Should Not Be Here at UN
President Donald Trump argued with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations.
He told her that CNN should not be covering him there.
CNN said it had never promised to stop covering the president.
The White House had recently stopped CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from entering its grounds.
The three organizations sued, saying the ban was unconstitutional.
Other news organizations supported CNN by refusing to take over its reporting assignment.
Trump said negative news stories could be dangerous and called some coverage “fake news.”
A media analyst said the dispute could affect press freedom even if people can still get news from other places.
President Donald Trump told CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins, “You should not be here,” during his United Nations visit.
The White House had barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from its grounds and removed CNN from presidential pool duties.
The three outlets filed a joint lawsuit arguing that the administration’s ban is unconstitutional.
Other news organizations supported CNN by declining to replace it in the pool and, in some cases, withholding presidential-event photographs.
Trump defended the ban as a response to what he called “fake news” and negative coverage, while critics warned it threatens press freedoms.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins, CNN, MS NOW, Politico, and other news organizations.
- What
- Trump confronted Collins at the United Nations while a lawsuit and media solidarity action continued over the White House’s press-access ban.
- When
- Tuesday, during Trump’s United Nations visit; the lawsuit was filed Monday and a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
- Where
- The confrontation occurred at the United Nations in New York; the access ban applies to White House grounds.
- Why
- The White House says the outlets publish “fake news” and purposely negative coverage; the outlets say the ban is unconstitutional and threatens press access.
Press Organizations and Critics
White House and Trump
Justification for the ban
Press Organizations and Critics
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico argue that excluding them from White House access is unconstitutional and have challenged the decision in court.
White House and Trump
Trump says the administration has a right to remove what he calls “fake news” and outlets that publish purposely negative coverage.
Impact on journalism
Press Organizations and Critics
Critics say the ban and remarks describing negative coverage as dangerous raise serious concerns about basic freedoms of the press.
White House and Trump
Trump argues that negative reporting can be dangerous for the country and has defended restricting outlets he considers unfavorable.
Media pool coverage
Press Organizations and Critics
Other news organizations declined to replace CNN and suspended pool coverage in solidarity with the excluded outlets.
White House and Trump
The White House removed CNN from pool duties, while broader coverage remained available through UNTV and journalists covering other leaders.
- Confrontation
- Trump told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “You should not be here,” at the United Nations.
- Outlets barred
- CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were banned from White House grounds.
- Legal action
- The three outlets filed a joint lawsuit challenging the ban as unconstitutional.
- Court hearing
- A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly.
- Pool response
- Other presidential pool members declined to replace CNN and suspended pool coverage until further notice.
- Media solidarity
- The Associated Press, The Washington Post, and The New York Times were among outlets that declined to publish photographs of presidential events Monday.
- Official coverage
- UNTV and journalists covering other international leaders continued showing Trump’s activities at the United Nations.