CNN and MS NOW say some of their reporters are denied access to the White House State Dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping, including coverage of arrivals at the North Portico. The dispute comes hours after a federal judge orders CNN to restore hard passes to journalists.
The court action follows a broader access fight between the Trump White House and multiple news organizations. According to the reports, the judge’s order is intended to reinstate credentials for covered journalists, but CNN and MS NOW allege that access is still blocked during the event. CBS News also reports the accounts from CNN and MS NOW, without indicating that other outlets faced the same issue.
While the outlet reports align on the allegation of denial of entry during the dinner’s arrival coverage, they differ mainly in emphasis and framing—such as the timing relative to the judge’s ruling and the specific reporters or credential steps involved. The underlying issue across coverage is whether the White House carries out the court-ordered restoration of press access for the event.
