Trump Erupts at CNN for 'Refusing' To Cover Xi's White House Arrival After He Banned Network

President Donald Trump has accused CNN and MS NOW of refusing to cover Chinese President Xi Jinping's White House arrival, even as the networks said their journalists were blocked from covering the event.

The clash erupted on Thursday, 24 September, during Xi's state visit to Washington, just hours after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico's White House press credentials.

Trump Blames CNN for Missing Xi

Trump attacked CNN and MS NOW in a Truth Social post, claiming they deliberately stayed away from what he called one of the most important and 'beautiful' White House events in years.

'CNN and MSDNC (MSNOW) ... have refused today to cover one of the most important and beautiful events that have taken place in many years,' Trump wrote, referring to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

Trump said the reception was 'made for television' and claimed the networks did not want to give him credit because they are 'fake news'.

CNN offered a dramatically different account. The network said it had sought to cover Xi's arrival but was told at the last minute that its editorial team could not attend.

CNN Team Blocked From Xi Event

CNN said the White House had requested the names of journalists who would cover Xi's arrival, and the network submitted a reporter, producer and camera crew.

About an hour before Xi's arrival, however, CNN said it was told it could send only a photojournalist and audio technician. Its reporter and producer were excluded from the event.

CNN said its staff challenged the restriction and sought to have its editorial team admitted. The dispute therefore centred not simply on whether CNN would cover Xi, but on which members of its team the White House would allow inside.

'Talk to Steven' Exchange

MS NOW reported a similar encounter involving White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López.

Barrón-López said she had sought accreditation to cover Xi's arrival but was denied entry. When she asked why, a White House employee reportedly told her, 'Talk to Steven', referring to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.

The competing accounts could hardly be clearer. Trump said the networks refused to cover Xi. The networks said their journalists were prevented from doing so.

Judge Orders Access Restored

The dispute came after US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the administration to restore the outlets' hard-pass credentials.

Kelly ruled that the outlets were likely to succeed on their constitutional due-process claim. His order concerned their regular White House press credentials, rather than guaranteeing entry to every restricted event or determining which journalists could participate in the television pool.

Yet the morning was chaotic. CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists initially encountered problems getting back into the White House, prompting the organisations to request an emergency hearing.

White House press operations director Micah Stopperich said the restoration process began at 7:25 a.m., while the Secret Service later said the affected badges had been reactivated. Reporters were eventually allowed back onto the grounds around midday.

Xi Visit Sparks TV Blackout

The dispute had an even bigger impact on coverage of Xi's arrival.

CNN is one of five organisations in the primary White House television pool, alongside ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC. The networks had suspended pooled coverage after CNN was removed from the rotation, and there were no pool cameras in place for Xi's arrival ceremony.

That left a major diplomatic event involving Trump and Xi without the normal live television pool coverage.

It was an awkward backdrop to Trump's complaint that the ceremony had been 'made for television'.

Trump-CNN Fight Moves Centre Stage

The confrontation is the latest chapter in Trump's dispute with CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

Trump had barred the outlets from the White House after attacking their coverage. The organisations sued, arguing that the restrictions violated their constitutional rights, leading to Kelly's temporary order restoring their credentials.

Xi's arrival has now become another flashpoint in that battle.

Trump says CNN and MS NOW refused to cover the event. CNN and MS NOW say they tried to cover it but faced restrictions on which journalists could enter.

For a White House reception Trump himself described as 'made for television', the most striking part of the story was what happened before the cameras could roll.