CELEBRITY
Trump’s exchange with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations quickly became a viral moment after he questioned why CNN was covering him there.
TRUMP: “I’M SURPRISED CNN IS HERE COVERING ME. YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE.”
CNN’S KAITLAN COLLINS: “THE UNITED NATIONS ALLOWED US IN, SIR.”
The exchange took place at the UN General Assembly in New York. CNN was able to cover Trump because its journalists had UN credentials, even though CNN, MS NOW and Politico had recently been barred from White House grounds.
Trump also claimed CNN had said it would stop covering him, but Collins said the network had never made that announcement and would continue covering the president.
Meanwhile, CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the administration over the White House access restrictions, arguing that the restrictions violate constitutional protections. The administration maintains that it has authority over access to White House facilities.
The distinction is simple:
The White House controls access to the White House.
The United Nations controls press access at UN headquarters.