NEW YORK, United States — First Lady Melania Trump has approved CNN’s attendance at one of her events during the United Nations General Assembly, despite President Donald Trump’s decision to bar the network from the White House.
The First Lady’s office granted accreditation to CNN correspondent Betsy Klein for an event scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, according to a report by The Daily Beast.
Klein was among the journalists denied entry to the White House over the weekend after Trump prohibited CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering activities at the presidential complex.
The approval allows CNN to cover the First Lady’s event in New York, although the restrictions on the network’s White House access remain in place.
CNN Confirms Approval From First Lady’s Office
CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter disclosed the arrangement on Monday, September 21, 2026, while discussing how journalists were responding to the president’s restrictions.
“I’m told, for example, a CNN reporter has already been approved by the office of the first lady to cover an event with Melania Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. tomorrow,” Stelter said.
The First Lady is scheduled to meet representatives and spouses of leaders from 57 United Nations member states to discuss children’s access to educational technology, digital safety, and related initiatives.
She is also expected to visit the New York Stock Exchange and launch IMPERIA, a forum connecting female chief executives and senior business leaders.
Her office has not publicly explained whether its decision to accredit CNN reflects a different approach to media access from that of the president.
Trump Defends Ban as News Organisations Sue
Trump announced the restrictions on Friday, accusing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of publishing false and unfavourable reports about his administration.
The three organisations filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, alleging that the withdrawal of their journalists’ credentials violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and due process.
They are seeking an emergency court order restoring their access.
The ban also prompted ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC to suspend their shared television coverage of presidential activities after the White House prevented CNN from fulfilling its scheduled pool duties.
Trump has defended the restrictions, maintaining that his administration is acting against false reporting rather than press freedom.
CNN Also Covers Rubio’s New York Event
The State Department continued to accommodate CNN during other official activities in New York.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended a reception for journalists on Sunday, where representatives of CNN, Politico, and other news organisations were present.
On Monday, CNN served as the designated television pool network when Rubio rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to mark the beginning of the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week.
The arrangements involving Rubio and the First Lady allowed CNN to continue covering those events while its legal challenge to the White House ban proceeded.
