Trump confronts CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at UN: ‘You shouldn’t be here’

President Donald Trump confronted CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations after she questioned him about the Iran war, amid a continuing dispute over White House press access.

MEDIABITES.COM.PK — September 22, 2026

President Donald Trump publicly challenged CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations on Tuesday, telling her that she “shouldn’t be here” after CNN was recently barred from the White House.

The exchange took place in New York as Trump arrived for the United Nations General Assembly. Collins asked the president about the ongoing U.S. war with Iran and when he expected the conflict to end.

Trump initially remarked that he was surprised CNN was covering him at the UN before turning directly to Collins.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Collins responded that the United Nations had provided CNN with credentials to cover the General Assembly.

Trump then told her that CNN should not be covering him, according to video and multiple reports of the exchange.

Why CNN was at the UN
The confrontation came days after Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would no longer have access to the White House.

The White House said the outlets’ First Amendment rights to publish were not being restricted but argued that those rights did not guarantee access to the White House, its briefing room or presidential press pools.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the restrictions, arguing that the administration’s actions violated constitutional protections. A federal court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The dispute has also affected the traditional White House television press pool. ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC declined to replace CNN after the network was prevented from carrying out scheduled pool duties.

Collins says CNN will continue covering Trump
After the encounter, Collins explained to CNN viewers that the network had not agreed to stop covering Trump.

She said CNN would continue reporting on the president despite the White House restrictions and noted that the network was challenging the administration’s actions in court.

The UN credentials allowed CNN journalists to cover Trump’s appearance at the General Assembly, but not to access the White House grounds. Reuters reported that CNN, MS NOW and Politico continued their coverage of the UN visit using UN-issued media passes.

A growing fight over presidential press access
Tuesday’s confrontation is the latest episode in an increasingly contentious relationship between Trump and several major news organizations.

The White House restrictions have triggered a legal dispute over press access while Trump continues to criticize outlets whose coverage he considers unfavorable. CNN reported that Trump’s decision followed complaints about negative media coverage, although the White House has presented its own justification for the restrictions.

Trump later continued his UN visit and addressed world leaders as conflicts involving Iran and other international issues dominated the General Assembly agenda.

For CNN, Tuesday’s exchange demonstrated that the network’s reporters could still cover the president outside the White House despite the administration’s restrictions on access to the presidential complex.

The legal battle over that access is now moving to federal court.

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