CNN and MS NOW faced mockery after they were blocked from the White House once again despite a judge’s ruling.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued a ruling ordering the White House to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the White House access that CNN, MS NOW, and other networks had enjoyed.
Yet despite the ruling, the White House subsequently blocked both CNN and MS NOW from covering the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping to a White House state dinner late Thursday. The networks weren’t pleased.
“The breaking news — denied,” CNN’s Erin Burnett reported live. “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.”
Listen:
BREAKING: CNN and MS NOW have been BLOCKED from covering the arrival ceremony for Xi Jinping’s state dinner tonight at the White House
THAT’S how it’s done!
Give them the BARE MINIMUM. And NOTHING more! pic.twitter.com/lmWBRzqlr6
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 24, 2026
MS Now’s Symone Sanders-Townsend reported similarly.
“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.”
Listen:
MS NOW: “Breaking as we speak — MS NOW and CNN have just been blocked from attending yet another White House event … I was told to reach out to Steven Cheung” pic.twitter.com/vWtjHp0YpU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 24, 2026
The White House defended the continued ban with a social media post.
“This is a pre-credentialed event,” the post read. “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.”
Everyday Americans also responded by reminding members of the media that they are disliked and distrusted by the vast majority of people.
Look:
They are an embarrassment to America should not be anywhere near our leaders of the world
— Lisa Schulte (@neonqueen) September 25, 2026
Pass out the baby bottles and pacifiers!! FAKE news are throwing a temper tantrum!! I say put their noses back in the corner!! We don’t want them back anyways!
— GITR DONE
(@Sillygirls66) September 25, 2026
TBH, MSM has completely lost the trust of Americans and your poor ratings reflect that. I’m not sure why you’re suddenly crying and litigating now that you have been called out – but good luck with that
— CornPops Mom (@CornpopsM) September 25, 2026
You gave no idea how happy this makes me! Maybe they need a refresher class at their privileged journalist schools on how to be a journalist! They have had free reign to be treasonous liars and the jig is up! Thank you Mr. President. We need to trust news to make our own opinion!
— Molli2022 (@Molli_K9) September 25, 2026
Who the hell cares, really. Are they not allowed to broadcast anymore or print the lies that they were going to print in the first place? MSNBC and CNN regularly refuses to broadcast official White House addresses to the nation or speeches so why should Trump care about you? pic.twitter.com/jfIqXieXjx
— Brad Lee (@KING_IS1) September 25, 2026
President Donald Trump later trolled CNN and MS NOW by accusing them of having “refused to cover” Xi’s arrival at the White House.
“CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping, and his beautiful wife, Madam Peng,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“The event was magnificent — Actually made for Television but, because they’re Fake News, and because they knew how good it would be, they didn’t want credit to be given to ‘TRUMP,’ they refused to be there,” he added.
President Trump Calls Out CNN and MS NOW Over Xi Coverage
President Trump is going after CNN and MS NOW, saying they refused to cover President Xi Jinping’s White House arrival and blaming their declining ratings on what he describes as a lack of credibility. He also previewed… pic.twitter.com/9p16uxq9po
— Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) September 24, 2026
The attempt to troll them likely angered them even further.
