Trump tells CNN's Kaitlan Collins she should not cover him outside UN
Donald Trump told CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins she should not be covering him outside the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 22. He was in the city to address the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The clash came four days after he banned CNN from the White House.
Collins tried to ask about new CNN polling on Iran. She asked when the war would end if two-thirds of Americans did not think the United States was winning it, according to Variety. Trump cut in. “I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here!” he said, adding: “You should not be here covering me.”
Collins replied: “The United Nations allowed us in, sir.” Trump also told her, “You said you weren’t going to cover me,” as reported by Deadline. He did not answer. He walked away from the organised press scrum, and CNN later published video of the exchange.
The argument follows a direct fight over access. On Friday, Sept. 18, Trump said staff from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House “effective immediately,” calling them “fake news.” Staffers from the three organisations were turned away on Saturday and had their press badges revoked.
On Monday, CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued Trump and three White House officials, alleging the ban violates the First Amendment, the US constitutional protection for press freedom. That same day, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and Fox News said they would suspend coverage of the president at events in response to the ban. The five networks including CNN normally supply White House TV pool coverage, meaning a small rotating camera team shares pictures with all broadcasters.
Trump spoke on the opening day of the General Debate, the organised series of national statements that runs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 26, according to the United Nations. The UN lists his appearance as the United States address to the 81st session, and the White House listed his remarks for 5pm on Sept. 22.
For viewers, this means the pictures may change. A pool suspension does not stop a speech happening. It limits how many cameras are in the room to show it.
