President Donald Trump appeared surprised to see CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a trip to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday following the White House’s decision to expel the network from its credentialed press pool.
“You should not be here covering me,” Trump said after Collins shouted a question at him as he entered the building. “You said you weren’t going to cover me. You shouldn’t be covering me.”
Collins, who has been singled out on multiple occasions by the president in the past, reminded Trump that the U.N. had allowed CNN into the building.
“It’s an honor to be here. I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me,” Trump added.
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Ultimately, the president turned to Collins, saying: “We’re making a lot of progress. Our country is doing really, really well.”
The Trump administration has barred Politico, CNN and MS NOW from White House grounds due to what the president considered unfavorable coverage of the administration and “fake news.”
Over the weekend, the three outlets’ credentials were removed, and as a result the five major networks — including CNN, ABC and FOX NEWS — decided to halt White House television pool coverage of the president. The networks collectively maintain the pricey infrastructure needed to broadcast video and audio of the president’s daily activities to countless other news outlets, especially when there is limited space.
On Monday, the fallout from the halt became most apparent. The president, who was scheduled to unveil a newly constructed helipad on the South Lawn, could not be heard as he spoke to officials and construction workers.
The administration’s decision has been challenged in federal court, and the case is expected to have its first hearing on Wednesday. The outlets argue that the president’s ban is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
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