Trump confronts CNN at UN after White House ban: ‘You should not be here’
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump confronted CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations on Tuesday, September 22, after the network was barred from White House grounds, asking why she was still covering him after the administration barred the network.
CNN lost White House access but retained the ability to report from other venues, including the UN.
CNN's @KaitlanCollins: "Two thirds of Americans don't think the US is winning the war with Iran. When will it end?"
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 22, 2026
Trump responded: "You should not be here covering me. You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me." pic.twitter.com/BtFIvFBc37
Trump also acknowledged he expected the network to keep following him.
Trump challenges CNN’s UN presence
Trump told Collins, “You should not be here,” after she asked about the Iran war.
He also said, “You said you weren’t going to cover me.”
Trump later acknowledged he expected the media to appear at major events.
“I knew that would happen,” he said, while discussing upcoming coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The president has defended the White House ban by calling the affected outlets “fake news” and accusing them of dangerous coverage, particularly about Iran.
We are credentialed by the United Nations to cover the General Assembly. https://t.co/FTwPE7ENgv
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 22, 2026
Why CNN could still cover Trump
CNN’s White House credentials were revoked after Trump announced the ban on September 18.
Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied entry to the White House the following day.
The restriction does not prevent those organizations from obtaining access at venues controlled by other institutions.
At the UN, CNN reporters used credentials issued for the General Assembly.
The White House ban also created a separate problem for presidential travel.
I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2026
CNN had been scheduled to provide television pool coverage during Trump’s New York trip, but the other major networks declined to replace it after the network was removed.
The pool shares footage among participating broadcasters, leaving the president without the customary television operation.
Lawsuit puts White House access on trial
CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued Trump and senior administration officials Monday, arguing that the access restrictions violate the First Amendment and due-process protections.
They are seeking an order restoring access.
“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the three news organizations said in a joint statement on Monday.…
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 21, 2026
The administration argues White House access is not unlimited and can be restricted.
A federal hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly.
The case also revives Trump’s 2018 dispute with CNN reporter Jim Acosta, whose hard pass was revoked before a judge ordered it restored.
