Melania Trump’s office has granted CNN reporter Betsy Klein access to cover her ’Fostering the Future Together’ event in New York City on Tuesday, even as President Trump has barred the network from the White House.
Trump announced on Friday that CNN, Politico and MS NOW would be denied White House access, accusing the outlets of publishing what he called “fake news.” The ban went into effect Saturday, with reporters from the three organisations turned away from the Oval Office and from the daily television pool.
CNN’s chief media analyst Brian Stelter said the move shows reporters finding alternative ways to cover a presidency that has closed its doors to traditional media. New York’s press corps are now scrambling to secure credentials outside the official White House channels.
The ban has also spurred a First Amendment lawsuit, as CNN, MS NOW and Politico claim the revocation of credentials was unconstitutional and lacked due process. The suit now awaits a federal court hearing scheduled for next month.
In the wake of the ban, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News halted their shared television pool coverage of Trump, leaving the president’s events without network broadcast. The absence of a TV pool has left many viewers reliant on cable news or social media for live updates.
The event itself, slated for Tuesday, will run alongside the United Nations General Assembly and will feature speeches aimed at youth empowerment and community engagement. CNN will provide coverage from the sidelines, offering audio and video streams through its online platforms.
As the lawsuit proceeds, the broader media community watches closely to see whether the Trump administration’s restrictions will be overturned, or if a precedent will be set for future presidential communication barriers.