President Donald Trump's reaction to encountering a CNN reporter at the United Nations reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how the press operates in a democracy, according to CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter.
The 80-year-old president erupted Tuesday morning when CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked him a question upon his arrival at the United Nations, where he was delivering an address, after the White House banned that network, MS NOW and Politico from the press pool.
"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 complained. "You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me."
Stelter explained why the president's comments were inappropriate and factually incorrect.
"The president's comment shows total ignorance about how the American news media actually operates," Stelter said, adding that it amounted to "a complete break with the spirit of the First Amendment."
Stelter praised the reporters who continued shouting questions and pressing the administration despite the ban, calling the moment "remarkable" even if unsurprising given Trump's long history of hostility toward the press.
He also described an unusual show of unity across the media industry since the ban took effect. The regular network pool has declined to fill CNN's place in coverage, some still photographers have withheld their images, and NPR has stopped airing audio of the president.
"This might not last forever, this might be fleeting," Stelter said, "but it is still a significant moment."
Despite the ban, Stelter noted that some Trump coverage will still reach viewers Tuesday through United Nations-organized pool feeds, which operate independently of the White House and remain accessible to reporters including Collins.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the lawsuit CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed against the administration, in which a judge will begin evaluating the ban's legality. Stelter said he was confident about the outcome.
"Every First Amendment lawyer I know says it's blatantly illegal," Stelter said, "and it's not going to last long."