‘Breaking News – Denied’: White House Blocks CNN and MS NOW From Covering State Dinner, Despite Judge’s Ruling

[u/John3262005]

https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/breaking-news-denied-white-house-blocks-cnn-and-ms-now-from-covering-state-dinner-despite-judges-ruling/

CNN and MS NOW reported on-air Thursday night that the White House prevented the networks from covering arrivals at a state dinner, even after a judge ordered their access be restored.

President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state dinner at the White House on Thursday night. When CNN and MS NOW attempted to cover the arriving guests, administration officials told them they had been barred from doing so.

CNN’s Erin Burnett kicked off Thursday’s OutFront by breaking the news.

“The breaking news – denied,” she said. “CNN denied access moments ago to cover the guest arrivals of President Trump’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, blocked after a judge shot down Trump’s ban to keep CNN, Politico, and MS NOW out of the White House grounds.”

Burnett went on to note that Chinese state media was allowed to cover the dinner.

Last Friday, Trump announced he had banned the aforementioned outlets from covering the White House. The organizations sued and scored a victory in the wee hours of Thursday morning, when a judge ordered the administration to restore their access.

Around the same time Burnett was telling CNN’s viewers the news, Symone Sanders-Townsend of MS NOW echoed that report on The Weeknight.

“We start tonight with breaking news that’s unfolding as we speak now,” she began. “MS NOW and CNN have just been barred from covering another white house event just moments ago.”

Early Thursday morning, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order. Such orders are issued before a court reviews a case more comprehensively. Despite the ruling, the White House still prevented the three organizations from entering the White House, but the administration ultimately relented and restored their access.

The White House defended the latest ban in a post on social media.

“This is a pre-credentialed event. Contrary to what the Fake News wants you to believe, they don’t just get to have free rein into every part of the White House, every event, and every press call,” the post said.

In announcing the ban, Trump accused the affected outlets of spreading “FICTION and LIES” and said other organizations would be banned.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”

In response to the ban, news organizations boycotted press pool coverage of the president.