CNN Blows Off Trump’s UN Speech Amid Ongoing Brawl Over Press Ban

President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday morning — but viewers of one network didn’t see it live, or much at all.

CNN blew off Trump’s speech as it happened, opting instead to cover topics like the Michigan Senate race and the recent death of actor Hayden Panettiere, while its competitors Fox News and MS NOW broadcast the speech. The editorial decision comes amid Trump’s press ban against the channel, along with MS NOW and Politico.

The Situation Room co-host Wolf Blitzer explained at the start of the show that Trump would be speaking momentarily and that CNN had a live feed from the UN. But instead of airing the speech live, Blitzer said CNN would show any “newsworthy moments” that came up.

CNN must not have deemed much of the speech newsworthy, because it did not play a second of Trump’s speech as he made it; the channel played a brief clip of Trump talking about the Iran war at 11:08 a.m. ET, a few minutes after he walked off stage.

For comparison, Fox News played the speech from the moment Trump took the microphone at 10:27 a.m. ET until he finished. MS NOW, meanwhile, aired the first 20 minutes of the speech before cutting away to a live “fact-checking” segment.

Host Stephanie Ruhle also called out the president for questioning whether he should wipe out Iran, telling viewers it would “be a war crime.”

Interestingly, CNN did cover Trump’s arrival at the UN Building in New York City, and anchor Kaitlan Collins was among reporters greeting Trump as he walked in — and the president immediately took notice.

“I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here!” Trump yelped. 

Collins barked back, “The United Nations allowed us in, sir.”

“You should not be here covering me,” Trump continued. “You said you weren’t going to cover me. You shouldn’t be covering me.”

He then put up his right hand as if to silence her as reporters started shouting questions at him. Trump then reiterated he was honored to be there, before walking away with First Lady Melania Trump by his side.

Watch that moment above via CNN.

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