Trump chides CNN at UN arrival as network pool dispute escalates
Donald Trump arrived at the UN General Assembly with first lady Melania Trump and criticised CNN for covering him, amid a widening dispute over press pool access.
US President Donald Trump arrived at United Nations headquarters on Tuesday ahead of his address to the General Assembly, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump.
As he entered the building, Trump told reporters it was "an honor" to be at the UN, but then turned to criticise CNN for covering his arrival. Addressing CNN reporter and anchor Kaitlan Collins, he said the network should not be there covering him, adding that it had said it would not do so.
"But I will tell you, it is an honor to be at the United Nations and we're making a lot of progress," the president said before walking away with the first lady and heading up an escalator.
The remarks came a day after CNN was removed from its pool duties at the White House, a role shared among major networks. Other networks responded by suspending their own pool coverage in solidarity.
The president's comments referenced that decision by the major networks to suspend their pool coverage after CNN, Politico and MSNow were barred from the White House.
The episode marks a further escalation in Trump's long-running efforts, pursued through courts and administrative action, to restrict news coverage by journalists he objects to.