Trump Spots Kaitlan Collins at UN, Mocks CNN Over Reported Coverage Boycott
President Donald Trump had barely arrived at United Nations headquarters when the media fight followed him through the door.
Trump arrived in New York with First Lady Melania Trump as CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and other reporters began shouting questions at him. When Trump noticed Collins in the group, he immediately turned the moment into a jab at CNN.
Trump said:
It’s an honor to be here. I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn’t be here. You should not be here covering me! You said you weren’t going to cover me. You shouldn’t be covering me! But I will say it’s an honor to be at the United Nations, and we’re making a lot of progress. Our country is doing really well. Thank you very much, everybody!
The exchange was brief, but it captured the tension surrounding Trump’s return to the center of the news cycle. Collins and the other reporters were still at the UN seeking the president’s attention despite the reported coverage dispute.
The report said Trump was scheduled to deliver remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The address was expected to focus on American greatness and the country’s position in the world. The ongoing war with Iran was also expected to be part of the discussion.
The confrontation came after a series of media and White House disputes. According to the report, major television networks had agreed to suspend coverage of Trump in the television pool after CNN was barred from participating in pool duties on Monday.
The report also said Trump had announced that CNN, Politico, and MS Now would be banned from the White House “effective immediately.”
That backdrop made the scene at the UN especially pointed. The networks had agreed to suspend pool coverage, yet reporters were still seeking Trump’s attention. When he spotted them, he was more than willing to call out the contradiction.
The moment was captured on video and posted by Nick Sortor:
Watch the exchange on Twitter.
Trump used the brief encounter to make his point without delivering a long speech. Collins and the other reporters wanted a response, and Trump gave them one on his own terms.
🔥 LMAO! President Trump arrived at the United Nations and IMMEDIATELY started clowning on CNN and Kaitlan Collins
"I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me! You shouldn't be here. You should not be here covering me! You said you weren't going to cover me! You shouldn't be… pic.twitter.com/aZCtzJHyuD
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 22, 2026