Trump snaps at CNN at United Nations: 'You should not be here covering me
President Donald Trump confronted CNN's Kaitlan Collins outside the United Nations, telling her she should not be covering him amid an escalating press ban dispute.
- Core Development: President Donald Trump confronted CNN's Kaitlan Collins outside the United Nations, telling her she should not be covering him amid an escalating press ban dispute.
- Beat Context: Categorized under World with independent corroboration.
- Reporting Depth: 4 minute analytical read synthesized from verified newsroom sources.
The confrontation occurred on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, in New York City, as the administration's sweeping White House media ban faces an imminent legal challenge in federal court.
The morning exchange began as Trump arrived at UN Headquarters for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Collins called out a question regarding public polling on the ongoing war in Iran. According to CNBC, Collins asked when the conflict would end, citing data showing that two-thirds of Americans do not believe the U.S. Is winning. Trump stopped, raised his hands, and addressed the reporter directly, according to CNBC, Yahoo News Singapore, and AOL.com.
Media additions
"I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn't be here. You should not be here covering me. You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me."
Donald Trump, U.S. President, via CNBC
Collins immediately interjected, stating, The United Nations allowed us in here, sir.
Later that day on CNN, Collins clarified to viewers that the network never pledged to halt its reporting on the presidency. She noted that their presence was secured through separate UN media accreditation rather than White House clearance. Brian Stelter, CNN's chief media analyst, told Yahoo News Singapore that Trump's remarks displayed a misunderstanding of how independent journalism functions within a democracy.
The confrontation stems from an escalating clash between the administration and the press corps. On Friday, 18 September 2026, Trump announced via Truth Social that he was barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House grounds, accusing them of broadcasting false stories. Secret Service officers confiscated hard passes from journalists representing those three outlets when they arrived for work on Saturday, 19 September 2026, as reported by CNBC and other outlets.
| Entity / Outlet | Action Taken | Legal or Operational Response |
|---|---|---|
| CNN, MS NOW, Politico | Banned from White House grounds on 19 September 2026; press passes confiscated by Secret Service. | Filed a joint federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday, 21 September 2026, alleging violations of the First Amendment and Due Process Clause. |
| ABC, CBS, Fox News, NBC | Participate in the five-member television pool consortium alongside CNN. | Suspended rotating pool coverage of the president ahead of the New York trip in solidarity, after the White House prevented CNN from fulfilling its scheduled pool duties. |
| The White House | Revoked hard passes, citing inaccurate reporting. | Distributed congressional talking points asserting that press passes are a privilege rather than a constitutional right, and ordered Department of Justice attorneys to defend the ban in court. |
The legal battle moved swiftly into the judicial branch. On Monday, 21 September 2026, the three affected media organisations filed their joint lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge Kelly ordered the Department of Justice to respond to the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction, setting a teleconference hearing for Wednesday, 23 September 2026, as detailed by CNBC. Trump expressed skepticism regarding the judiciary, telling reporters he expected Kelly to rule against him. In contrast, Kelly previously ordered the White House to restore press credentials to then-CNN correspondent Jim Acosta in November 2018.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic and domestic fallout at the United Nations continued to unfold alongside the media dispute. During his address to the General Assembly, Trump delivered a speech addressing the ongoing conflict in Iran, prompting Iranian delegates to walk out ten minutes into his remarks. Separate diplomatic engagements took place on the sidelines, as U.S. Representatives held discussions with Iranian mediators, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration's openness to dialogue during television appearances. At the same time, newly released polling highlighted mounting public skepticism regarding the conflict in Iran and its potential domestic political fallout for Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
As the legal proceedings progress, the immediate focus turns to the federal court. Judge Kelly's scheduled teleconference hearing will determine whether the administration's ban remains in place while the underlying constitutional questions are litigated, a decision that will directly dictate whether reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico regain physical access to the White House complex.
How significant is this development?
Contribute your assessment to the aggregated reader sentiment ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key questions answered in this reportWhat is the key development in: Trump snaps at CNN at United Nations: 'You should not be here covering me?
President Donald Trump confronted CNN's Kaitlan Collins outside the United Nations, telling her she should not be covering him amid an escalating press ban dispute.
Why is this World development significant for the UK?
This report covers critical events in our World beat. Independent reporting monitors related UK statements, regulatory shifts, and public responses as further verified details emerge.
How was this reporting corroborated and verified?
Newsarchy UK compiles and cross-references reporting from primary reporting from inkl and cross-checked wire reports. All coverage adheres to published editorial standards.
When was this report published?
This briefing was published on September 23, 2026 and is permanently cataloged in the Newsarchy UK World archives.
