President Trump had a tense exchange with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations on Tuesday, days after his administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from White House grounds.
The confrontation began as Collins attempted to question Trump about the war with Iran. She referenced polling about Americans’ views of the conflict before Trump turned his attention to CNN’s presence at the UN gathering.
Trump expressed surprise that CNN was covering his appearance and told Collins that she should not be there covering him. Collins responded that the United Nations had allowed CNN into the event.
The distinction is significant because Trump’s restrictions apply to access controlled by the White House, not credentials issued independently by the United Nations. CNN, MS NOW and Politico were therefore able to send reporters to cover Trump’s UN appearance using credentials issued by the international organization.
Collins continued attempting to ask her original question as Trump spoke with other reporters. Trump eventually told the assembled press that the United States was making progress and doing well before leaving with First Lady Melania Trump.
The encounter came shortly after CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit challenging the White House restrictions. The organizations argue that revoking their access because of dissatisfaction with their reporting violates the First Amendment and constitutional due-process protections.
President Trump announced the ban last Friday, accusing the three organizations of publishing false information. Their White House hard passes were subsequently deactivated, preventing their reporters from entering White House grounds under their previous credentials.
The dispute has also affected the television pool that normally provides footage of presidential events to news organizations. After CNN was prevented from fulfilling its scheduled pool responsibilities, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN suspended their participation in the television pool.
The three organizations are seeking emergency court action restoring their White House access while their lawsuit proceeds. A hearing was scheduled before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed to the federal bench by Trump during his first term.
Tuesday’s encounter demonstrated the practical limits of the White House restrictions outside presidentially controlled venues. Although CNN reporters currently cannot use their former White House credentials, Collins and other journalists from the affected organizations remain able to cover President Trump at events where independent organizations such as the UN control press access.
The post Trump Clashes With CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at UN After White House Media Ban appeared first on Real News Now.
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