Trump Confused by CNN at UN: Thinks White House Ban Applies Worldwide

When President Trump walked into the United Nations, he apparently forgot—or never quite understood—that a White House press restriction does not run the world.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins was stationed along the public entrance ropeline alongside a packed pool of reporters and photographers. Because the White House has blocked CNN from participating in the official TV pool rotation, Collins was credentialed independently by the UN.

As reporters shouted questions, Collins asked, “Two thirds of Americans don’t think the US is winning the war with Iran. When will it end?”

Trump pointed directly at Collins and declared, “I’m surprised CNN is here covering me.”

“The United Nations allowed us in, sir,” Collins replied.

Clearly chafing at the network's presence, Trump doubled down: “You should not be here covering me. You said you weren’t going to cover me. You shouldn’t be covering me.”

That exchange laid bare Trump's apparent confusion, mistaking a targeted White House access restriction for a global ban on journalism.

“We never said we were not going to cover the president,” Collins later clarified on air. “We will do our best to cover him each and every day.”

Back in the Atlanta studio, Wolf Blitzer summed up the absurdity of the moment for viewers: “It’s really amazing. The United Nations opens up the door to all the news organizations covering the president... even as the White House bars news organizations from covering the president of the United States.”

H/T Brian Stelter