Trump bars U.S. press from Xi meeting; Chinese state media gains access
White House excluded American outlets despite court order, while China Global Television Network covered the president's encounter with Xi Jinping.
Part of a larger narrative
Trump White House Press Ban
- Pope Leo XIV backs press freedom as Trump's CNN, MS Now, Politico ban unravels
- Trump bars U.S. press from Xi meeting; Chinese state media gains accessyou are here
- White House blocks CNN, MS NOW again from Xi dinner despite court order
- Trump bars CNN, Politico, MS NOW from White House after aide shows him critical clips
- Trump calls media a 'cancer' and national security threat; three outlets sue
What to know
- Trump's White House barred Politico, CNN, and MS NOW from covering his meeting with Xi Jinping, defying a federal court order issued the night before.
- The entire U.S. TV press pool boycotted coverage in response, leaving Chinese state media (China Global Television Network) as the primary source of video from the event.
- Federal Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the White House to maintain media access for at least two weeks while the case continues and required compliance explanation by 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
- The incident echoes Trump's first term, when he barred U.S. press while allowing Russian state media access to White House events.
“Over 70 major cities/capitals around the world, from London, Paris and Rome to Madrid, Athens and New Delhi, all showcase beautiful arches. Interestingly, Washington, DC, is the only major Western capital without an arch.”
Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary · The New Republic ↗
Donald Trump U.S. President
Xi Jinping Chinese PresidentJudge Timothy Kelly U.S. District JudgeKerry Picket White House print pool reporter
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
-
2
White House claims compliance but outlets report late access
After Judge Kelly ordered the White House to explain continued restrictions by 12:30 p.m., it claimed access was restored at 9:55 a.m. However, the outlets reported being allowed on grounds only around noon, well after Trump's press conference with Xi concluded.
“Chinese state media got access to the White House—but not American outlets that Trump doesn't like.”
— The New Republic, News outlet · source -
C
“.. a surreal week in the life of Washington. The president of the United States barred American reporters .. and rolled out a literal red carpet for the communist president of China ..” @nytimes.com
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
-
Z
"Trump’s press ban left his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping without any # US TV pool coverage, giving Chinese state # media more access to the # WhiteHouse than American # press . Despite a court order Wed night restoring White House access to Politico, MS NOW, and # CNN , their journalists were still barred from the grounds Thur…
-
D
BREAKING: Trump allows Chinese press in White House but refuses MSNOW, Politico, and CNN access. Trump is flexing his authoritarianism for Xi.
-
-
background
TV press pool boycotts coverage in solidarity — The entire White House TV press pool—Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN—continued their boycott from broadcasting the president live, joined by White House photojournalists, leaving Chinese state media as primary video source.
-
1
White House continues barring outlets despite court order
Despite the court order, Politico, CNN, and MS NOW journalists remained barred from White House grounds Thursday morning during Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping, prompting an immediate court notification.
“Although a court decision restored media access to CNN, Politico & MS NOW earlier this morning, we are currently without a network pool camera.”
— Kerry Picket, White House print pool reporter · source -
background
Federal judge orders White House to restore media access — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a court order Wednesday night restoring White House press access to Politico, MS NOW, and CNN after they had been barred.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
-
first by New York Times, 2h ago · also Star Tribune, NYT
and 1 smaller piece