President Trump publicly chastised CNN, MSNBC and Politico at the U.N. after announcing he revoked their White House press credentials, calling some coverage "dangerous" and accusing outlets of false reporting about the war with Iran. Reporters had credentials seized after the announcement, and CNN, MSNBC and Politico have sued, citing First Amendment and 14th Amendment due-process claims. Major networks suspended the television pool in solidarity, leaving broadcast feed slots empty while U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly hears the case.
‘You Should Not Be Here’: Trump Taunts CNN At U.N. After Revoking Press Credentials; Networks Suspend Pool Coverage
A CNN broadcast tent sits vacant at theWhite Housegrounds after US President Donald Trump banned three major news outlets, CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, in Washington, DC. on Sept. 21, 2026. Major television networks suspended their White House pool coverage and will no longer send camera crews to coverPresident Donald Trump'spool events, standing in solidarity with CNN after Trumpdenied White House accessto reporters of three outlets. The move from the five networks that make up the television pool ‒ ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News, in addition to CNN ‒ means a broadcast television feed that is distributed widely for media won't be carried for most of Trump's events.(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used a high-profile appearance at the United Nations General Assembly to criticize and taunt news organizations that continue to cover him after the White House revoked their press credentials.
Trump said he stripped credentials from CNN, MSNBC and Politico because he considered some of their reporting "dangerous," and he accused those outlets of publishing "false" and "malicious" claims, including reporting about the war with Iran that he said relied on fabricated sources.
According to the administration, the revocations were announced on social media on Sept. 18; reporters from the affected outlets who arrived at the White House on Sept. 19 had their credentials seized. Photographs from the White House grounds on Sept. 21 showed empty camera positions and an unattended CNN broadcast tent after major networks withdrew from the television pool in protest.
The five networks that traditionally form the television pool — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN — suspended their pool coverage in solidarity with the barred outlets. That move means a widely distributed broadcast feed will not be available for many of the president's events while the dispute is unresolved.
Despite losing special White House access, CNN, MSNBC and Politico have continued to report on the president’s activities independently and have filed a federal lawsuit seeking restoration of credentials. The outlets argue the revocations violate their First Amendment rights and deny constitutionally required due process under the 14th Amendment.
"I think when news is fake and it's actually dangerous, you have to clear it out," Trump said during a public exchange at the U.N., adding later, "You should not be here covering me."
At one point, CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins asked the president about the timeline for the war with Iran; Trump responded by telling her she "should not be here" and suggested he expected news organizations to continue following him despite the dispute.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee assigned to hear the lawsuit, previously ruled in favor of CNN anchor Jim Acosta in a 2018 credential dispute. When asked whether he would restore credentials if a judge ordered it, Trump said he expected an unfavorable ruling and indicated he would appeal.
The legal battle is likely to test the balance between White House authority over on-site access and constitutional protections for the press. For now, the dispute has left broadcast pool slots empty and heightened tensions between the administration and major news organizations.
Video tripods sit empty on theWhite Housegrounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. The networks' decision to pull out of the pool comes after reporters for MS NOW, CNN and Politicowere denied entry into the White Houseover the weekend asTrump's White House banon the three outletswent into effect.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
A FOX News broadcast plays on the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
Signs of support for AP, CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO hang on the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
A seating chart marking CNN's placement in the briefing room hangs on the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
White House TV correspondents prepare to go live as the CNN booth is empty on the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
MS NOW White House Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard talks to a colleague before a television report on a street corner outside the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
MS NOW White House Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard prepares for a television report on a street corner outside the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)
MS Now correspondent Akayla Gardner reports outside the White House grounds after President Donald Trump banned MS Now, CNN, and Politico in a Truth Social post, in Washington, DC Sept. 20, 2026.(Annabelle Gordon, REUTERS)
CNN Correspondent Julia Benbrook prepares for a television report on a street corner outside the White House grounds after earlier being denied entry, on Sept. 19, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Graeme Sloan, Getty Images)
CNN correspondent Betsy Klein holds an empty credential holder as she reports from the sidewalk outside the White House after US President Donald Trump banned three major news outlets, CNN, MS NOW and Politico, from the White House in Washington, DC Sept. 19, 2026.(Anna Rose Layden, REUTERS)
CNN Senior White House Report Betsy Klein during a television report on a street corner outside the White House grounds after earlier being denied entry, on Sept. 19, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Graeme Sloan, Getty Images)
Neil McCabe, reporter with Real America's Voice, delivers a stand-up news report outside the White House in Washington, DC, on Sept. 21, 2026. Three leading US news outlets announced on September 21 they will go to court after being banned from the White House, as President Donald Trump claimed that media critical of his administration is a "Cancer" threatening national security. CNN, MS NOW and Politico said in a joint statement that they were filing suit after Trump last week ordered them to be barred from the presidential complex.(JIM WATSON, AFP via Getty Images)
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, in New York City on Sept. 22, 2026.
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