CNN and MS NOW reporters returned to the White House press corps Friday after a judge overturned President Donald Trump’s ban on the outlets Thursday. They shouted questions at Trump as he stood with Chinese President Xi Jinping; no one responded.
Trump had sought to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico, accusing them of what he called “FAKE NEWS” reporting. The ban prompted major television networks to halt White House coverage. The administration later reinstated credentials for all three outlets, but reporters said they were blocked from covering Xi’s arrival at the state dinner.
Reporters asked whether Trump had urged Xi to stop buying oil from Iran and why he was banning media outlets. Another asked whether U.S. taxpayers should pay for a government ad about Trump that aired on Fox News and promoted the administration’s message that it would “defeat communism, socialism and Marxism.” At a tea meeting with Xi and both first ladies, Trump later called press coverage “very fair.”
