Trump Scolds CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at the UN After He Banned Network From White House Coverage: ‘You Shouldn’t Be Here!’

President Donald Trump appeared surprised to see CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins among the journalists outside the United Nations on Tuesday — and he lashed out at her after she tried to ask him a question.

Trump was in New York City to deliver remarks at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. As he was entering the UN, Collins asked the president a question: “Two-thirds of Americans don’t think the U.S. is winning the war with Iran. When will it end?”

Trump said, “I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here!” Collins replied, “The United Nations allowed us in, sir.”

Trump, addressing Collins, continued: “You should not be here covering me. You said you weren’t going to cover me. You shouldn’t be covering me.” He then walked away.

The exchange came after Trump announced Friday, Sept. 18, that he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico “effective immediately” from the White House, conjuring his familiar allegation that they are “fake news.” The White House barred entry to staffers from the three outlets on Saturday and revoked their press passes.

On Monday, CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued Trump and three White House officials over his ban, alleging it violates the First Amendment and “brazenly discriminates based on editorial viewpoint.”

In a post Monday morning on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!”

Later Monday, Trump said “we’ll go for appeal” — anticipating he will lose a lower-court ruling in the case.

The Oval Office “should be treated with Decorum, Respect, and Dignity, not defiled by Third Rate Clowns, who purposefully distort, twist, and degrade with everything they write or publish. Virtually every story about me, or anything having to do with me, is negative, wrong and, in many cases, DANGEROUS for our Country!” the president wrote.