President Donald Trump confronted CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins in a tense exchange Tuesday morning as he arrived at the United Nations ahead of a major speech, telling the network it had no business being there following his administration’s ban on the outlet.
Trump opened by saying he was honored to be at the UN before spotting CNN cameras in the press pool. He quickly pivoted to demanding the network leave, repeating the ban he had imposed last week on CNN, MSNBC and Politico.
Trump and Collins Trade Words at the UN Entrance
“I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here!” Trump said. Collins pushed back immediately, telling him, “the United Nations allowed us in, sir.” Trump pressed on, saying, “You should not be here covering me. You said you weren’t going to cover me, you shouldn’t be covering me.” He raised his right hand as if to silence reporters who began shouting questions, then reiterated he was honored to attend before walking away with First Lady Melania Trump at his side.
The confrontation followed a day in which the Trump administration reinforced the ban by pulling CNN from a scheduled TV pool assignment. Trump defended his position in a Truth Social post, framing the move as a stand against misinformation. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America,” he wrote. “It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!” You can read more about Trump’s ban on CNN and media outlets in the original reporting.
Outlets Sue the White House Over the Press Ban
CNN, MSNBC and Politico have since joined forces and filed a lawsuit against the White House over the ban. The outlets argued the ban “brazenly discriminates based on editorial viewpoint” and has already caused “irreparable harm” to all three organizations.
Trump, meanwhile, insisted that a free press is “something which I cherish,” even as he continued to block the outlets from coverage access. The contradiction drew sharp criticism from press freedom advocates.
Rubio Backs the Ban, Clashes With NBC Host
Earlier Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s position during a contentious interview on NBC’s Today show, saying he “can’t blame” Trump because mainstream reporters often sound like they are “rooting for Iran.” Rubio also argued with co-host Craig Melvin over whether the word “ban” was even the right term to describe the administration’s actions.
The lawsuit filed by the three outlets is now working its way through the courts, and a ruling could determine whether the administration can continue restricting press access to White House events. The case is expected to draw significant attention from First Amendment legal scholars and press freedom organizations in the weeks ahead.
