The White House denied CNN and MS NOW access to cover Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival for a state dinner with Donald Trump. Both networks reported that their journalists were turned away despite a federal judge recently lifting Trump’s ban on their coverage.
On Thursday evening, CNN’s reporter and producer were blocked from entering the ceremony where Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. According to CNN, the White House informed them just before the event that they could send only a photojournalist and an audio technician, while other networks were permitted to bring full teams.
Laura Barrón-López, a White House reporter for MS NOW, faced a similar issue. She recalled the incident on-air, saying, “I was told, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t let you in.'” She raised concerns about future access, asking, “Are we not going to be credentialed into these daily events?”
This situation remains fluid as developments unfold.
