President Donald Trump was unpleasantly surprised to see CNN's Kaitlan Collins waiting for him at the United Nations Headquarters, where he was set to address the General Assembly.
The 80-year-old president arrived Tuesday morning with first lady Melania Trump to find Collins, whose network was banned along with MS NOW and Politico over coverage that angered Trump, and he didn't seem particularly happy to see her.
"Mr. President, two-thirds of Americans, two-thirds of Americans don't think the U.S. is winning the war with Iran," Collins asked as he walked in. "When will it end?"
"It's an honor to be here," Trump said, seemingly caught off guard. "I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me."
"The United Nations allowed us in, sir," Collins interjected.
"You should not be here covering me," Trump replied. "You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me."
"Two-thirds of Americansdon't think that the U.S. iswinning the war with Iran," she repeated. "Whenwill it end?"
"We're making a lot ofprogress," Trump said. "Our country is doingreally, really well. Thank youvery much."
After that brief interaction, Collins told her colleagues at "CNN News Central" that Trump was incorrect about her presence at the UN.
"CNN, of course, never said wewere not going to cover thepresident," Collins said. "It was actually thepresident who tried to stop usfrom being able to cover him,certainly in the way that wewere doing beforehand.Obviously, that's being foughtin the courts. We will continueto cover the president and hisspeech, and as he meets withworld leaders today, just notwith a TV camera from one of thefive major networks in the room,as he's going back and forthwith these meetings with worldleaders, and there are certainlya slew of them on the agendathat could potentially benewsworthy."