The White House reversed course on its media restrictions Thursday, permitting barred reporters to return after initially blocking them ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“CNN was allowed back into the White House on Thursday at noon,” CNN host Kaitlan Collins wrote on X after the standoff.
Several journalists had been turned away earlier in the day, despite a judge issuing an order hours earlier that restored access to the affected news organizations.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly granted a temporary restraining order early Thursday, directing the Trump administration to reinstate access for Politico, CNN and MS NOW. Trump had barred the outlets the previous Friday.
Even after the ruling took effect, the White House continued to deny entry to some reporters and confiscated credentials before eventually allowing the organizations back inside later that afternoon.
The confrontation unfolded as Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Madame Peng, to the White House, where he praised what he called the “truly great friendship” between the two leaders.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists were initially barred from the White House on Thursday, but were permitted to return by noon after the welcoming ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping began
Trump announced the ban in an angry social media post last Friday, accusing the outlets of spreading “fake news.” Reports said aide Natalie Harp had shown him a collection of unfavorable coverage shortly before the decision was made public.
Politico reported that one of its reporters had their credentials seized Thursday even after the judge’s order became effective. MS NOW also said one of its journalists had been stripped of their pass and refused entry.
Xi Jinping (2nd-L) and first lady of China Peng Liyuan (L) greet US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump (R) during an arrival ceremony at the White House today
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner reports from outside the White House after Trump barred MS NOW, CNN and Politico in a Truth Social post
The three organizations sued the Trump administration Monday, and the legal dispute moved quickly through the courts.
Other major broadcasters, including Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC, responded by refusing to provide regular coverage of the President. The networks make up the television pool, which shares responsibility for covering presidential events on a rotating basis.
ABC News had been scheduled to serve as the television pool for Xi’s state visit Thursday. However, the network refused to enter events until the White House provided evidence that CNN journalists had been permitted inside, according to the Guardian.
When Trump and Melania greeted Xi and Madame Peng at the airport Wednesday, several broadcast crews packed away their cameras and observed the ceremony without recording it.
Despite the media blackout, Trump struck a warm tone while welcoming the Chinese leader, pointing out that Xi was visiting him at the White House for the first time.
“We have spent time together all over the world,” Trump said.
He said the two men had “forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually” during those encounters.
Trump also described his visit to Beijing earlier this year as a “great privilege,” praising what he called Xi’s “spectacular and very beautiful hospitality.”
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How do you view the decision to readmit news organizations that had previously been barred from the White House?
The restrictions created a media blackout surrounding Trump’s state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping, his wife, Peng Liyuan and US first lady Melania Trump listen to US President Donald Trump delivering remarks at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 24, 2026
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on the South Portico of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington
Trump said he and Melania were “honoured to host” Xi and his wife at the “beautiful White House.”
Xi, for his part, said he and Trump had developed a “personal rapport” over the years and urged both governments to maintain open communication.
The Chinese president acknowledged that the dialogue between the two countries could still be strengthened.
“We should strengthen communication,” Xi said. “China and the United States are different in national condition, but through candid, in-depth, and continued dialogue, our two countries can understand each other better, seek common ground, while shelving differences and build up mutual trust.”
Xi said the two leaders had encouraged closer communication between officials responsible for foreign affairs, economic policy, financial cooperation, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges.
He later said the US and Chinese militaries should maintain regular dialogue as the broader relationship develops, describing competition between the nations as healthy when it remains “within bounds.”
Trump’s week has included a series of high-profile events, from the United Nations General Assembly in New York to the historic state visit by Xi in Washington, which is due to conclude Friday.
The dispute over press access has limited public coverage of the meetings, with broadcasters largely declining to air the events live.
In the absence of the traditional networks, newer outlets such as MAGA-friendly Real America’s Voice have stepped in with livestreams on YouTube.
With CNN and MS NOW barred, the broadcast tents they normally use on the White House grounds sat empty and dark. Their correspondents instead delivered live reports from streets outside the presidential residence.
It remained unclear when the White House would formally reinstate the affected outlets’ credentials.
The Daily Mail contacted the White House for comment.
The White House Correspondents’ Association issued a forceful condemnation of the restrictions following the administration’s crackdown on media access.
“The President said it plainly in the Oval Office, describing his own planned action as a ‘ban on the free press,’” WHCA president Jacqui Heinrich said in a statement.
“The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask.”
