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The White House limited CNN at the state dinner arrival, then let the outlets back in
September 25, 2026
The White House let CNN cover Xi's state dinner arrival with only a photojournalist and an audio technician, then allowed the barred outlets back in.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is the guest of President Trump at a White House state dinner.
Key facts
- CNN reports that roughly an hour before Xi was due to arrive, the White House told the network it could send only a photojournalist and an audio technician, which kept its reporter and producer out.
- The BBC reports that the three outlets said soon after that they had been readmitted.
CNN reports that the White House, roughly an hour ahead of Xi's scheduled arrival, told the network it could cover the event with a photojournalist and an audio technician. The limit left out CNN's editorial team, its reporter and its producer. BBC carries the same account and adds that MS NOW reporters were also kept from the arrival.
BBC reports that all three outlets said soon after that they had been let back in, and CNN agrees. The New York Times frames the episode as a contrast, with its headline setting the welcome given to China's leader against a cooler reception for American media.
The outlets agree on the exclusion and on the reversal. The accounts do not give the White House's reason for barring the editorial teams.
Still developing
The White House's reason for excluding the editorial team is where the account stands by the time of draft.
How settled the reporting is
Sources
- BBC — Media outlets banned by Trump denied access to White House dinner despite judge's order
- CNN — CNN, MS NOW White House reporters denied access to Xi’s state dinner arrival
- The New York Times — In Trump’s White House, China’s Dictator Is Welcome. American Media, Less So. - The New York Times
Toggle read the full reports of all 4 outlets counted on this event.