Donald Trump has criticised CNN and MS NOW for not broadcasting Xi Jinping’s arrival ceremony at the White House, describing the event as “made for Television”. Other networks, including CBS News, also did not air the ceremony.
The ceremony was restricted to members of the White House television pool, with ABC News acting as its representative on Thursday. The pool normally comprises NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News.
The networks are declining to provide video coverage of the president until the White House guarantees that CNN will be allowed to return to the regular pool rotation. Some outlets also chose not to broadcast the government’s feed because the television pool was not present, although news organisations continued to report on the event.
CNN and MS NOW, along with Politico, were barred from the White House the previous week. A federal judge ordered their access to be restored, but it remains unclear whether CNN will be permitted to take part in the television pool.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump accused CNN and what he called “MSDNC” of refusing to cover the arrival of the Chinese president and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
“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 wrote.
Mr Trump added that the state dinner for President Xi that evening would be “spectacular” and said the media would attend.
