President Trump took to Truth Social to voice his frustration that CNN and MS NOW didn't air the arrival ceremony for Xi, saying it was "made for television." Other networks, including CBS News, also didn't air the arrival ceremony.
CNN and MS NOW, along with Politico, were banned from the White House last week. While a federal judge ordered the outlets' access to be restored, it's not clear whether CNN will be allowed to participate in the White House television pool. And as long as CNN lacks a guarantee that it will be in the regular pool rotation again, the other four networks that make up the pool also aren't participating.
Members of the pool — NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News — are declining to provide video coverage of the president until the White House guarantees it will let CNN back in. Some networks chose not to air the government's feed of the event, since the television pool was not present. News outlets are still reporting on the event itself.
The arrival ceremony for Xi was not open to all media, but only to the pool. ABC News was the representative for the pool on Thursday.
"CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping, and his beautiful wife, Madam Peng," Mr. Trump wrote. "The event was magnificent — Actually made for Television but, because they're Fake News, and because they knew how good it would be, they didn't want credit to be given to "TRUMP," they refused to be there. That's why they have such poor Ratings. Tonight's State Dinner at the White House, for President Xi, will be spectacular! The Media will be in attendance."