Kaitlan Collins: Row over CNN reporter’s White House ban
Image copyright AFP/GettyA CNN reporter has been barred from a White House event for asking Donald Trump "inappropriate" questions.
Kaitlan Collins said she was excluded from a Rose Garden event after asking about Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Trump's ex-lawyer.
White House press secretary Sarah Saunders said the reporter had shouted questions and refused to leave.
President Trump has repeatedly attacked CNN as "fake news" and has refused to take questions from CNN reporters.
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
Fake News CNN is looking at big management changes now that they got caught falsely pushing their phony Russian stories. Ratings way down!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2017
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
- Trump tweets cartoon of train hitting CNN
- Donald Trump posts video 'beating' CNN
Ms Collins attended a photo opportunity with Mr Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday.
She was acting as the White House pool reporter - one of a rotating group of journalists, who will attend an event and write a report which all other networks can use.
This system allows networks to share the burden of covering the president.
Ms Collins said she had tried to ask Mr Trump questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin's postponed visit and recently released tapes documenting a conversation with lawyer Michael Cohen.
The president reportedly ignored the questions. Shortly afterwards, Ms Collins was barred from a Rose Garden press event with Mr Trump and Mr Juncker.
"They said that the questions I asked were inappropriate for that venue," Ms Collins told CNN.
Ms Saunders said a reporter, whom she does not name, has refused to leave after shouting questions, and "was not welcome to participate in the next event" - although colleagues from her network could do so.
Skip Twitter post by @whca
Sarah Sanders statement on White House decision to ban a reporter who asked questions. pic.twitter.com/w3b9FCIvIo
— WHCA (@whca) July 25, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @whca
CNN condemned the ban as "retaliatory" and "not indicative of an open and free press". The White House Correspondents Association called it "wrongheaded, and weak".
Traditional rival Fox News also attacked the ban.
"We stand in strong solidarity with CNN for the right to full access for our journalists as part of a free and unfettered press," network president Jay Wallace said in a statement.
Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier retweeted CNN's statement about the ban, saying his network "stands firmly" with the rivals.
Skip Twitter post by @BretBaier
As a member of the White House Press pool- @FoxNews stands firmly with @CNN on this issue and the issue of access https://t.co/TFwfLQtP9h
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) July 25, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @BretBaier
Mr Trump is a noted supporter of Fox News, and has appeared on the network for a number of interviews.
The president has publicly criticised a number of major media outlets, notably CNN and the New York Times.
On his visit to the UK, Mr Trump attacked an article in The Sun on the same grounds, although retracted his statement after speaking to a reporter from the paper.
Media playback is unsupported on your device
