President Donald Trump’s escalating dispute with CNN followed him from the White House to the United Nations on Tuesday.
As Trump arrived at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins was among the journalists covering him. When Collins asked Trump about the war with Iran, the president turned his attention to CNN’s presence itself.
“I’m surprised CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here,” Trump said.
The response from the press line was immediate:
“The United Nations allowed us in, sir.”
The brief exchange highlighted an important distinction in the ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and several major news organizations: the White House can control access to White House grounds, but it does not control U.N. press credentials. CNN journalists were able to cover Trump at the United Nations using credentials issued independently by the U.N.
The White House ban does not extend to the United Nations
Trump announced last week that reporters from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO would no longer be permitted on White House grounds, accusing the organizations of publishing what he described as false and unfair coverage.
The restrictions took effect over the weekend, when journalists from the three organizations were turned away and White House credentials were deactivated.
But the United Nations operates its own accreditation system.
That is why CNN journalists remained able to enter the U.N. complex and cover Trump’s appearance at the General Assembly despite being barred from the White House. Reuters reported that CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO continued covering Trump at the U.N. using U.N.-issued media passes.
The exchange came during a larger legal fight
CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the White House restrictions.
The organizations argue that the administration cannot revoke access in retaliation for reporting it dislikes and are seeking emergency court intervention to restore their White House credentials. A hearing on their request for a temporary restraining order is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly.
The dispute has also affected the traditional television press pool. CNN had been scheduled to provide pooled television coverage of Trump’s U.N. trip, but after the administration blocked CNN from performing that role, ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC declined to replace it.
“You shouldn’t be here”
Tuesday’s exchange was striking because it brought the White House press dispute directly into an international setting where the administration does not determine which journalists receive access.
Trump appeared surprised to see Collins in the press group and questioned why CNN was still covering him. Collins had asked him about public opinion concerning the Iran war before Trump responded to her presence.
The journalist’s answer — “The United Nations allowed us in, sir” — summarized the practical difference between the two venues in a single sentence.
CNN may currently be barred from the White House, but that restriction does not automatically follow the president wherever he travels.
At the U.N., the decision about who enters belongs to the United Nations.
Sources: Reuters, Forbes, Axios, CBS News, CNN, Nexta/ X.
By NJ RADAR Team