Melania allows CNN to cover her event amid Trump's White House press ban

Days after US President Donald Trump barred CNN and two other outlets from the White House, First Lady Melania Trump’s office approved a CNN reporter’s request to cover her event in New York on Tuesday.

CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein was granted a credential to cover Melania’s 'Fostering the Future Together' event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to The Independent, which confirmed the approval with an official from the First Lady’s office.

The apparent workaround came as CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter discussed Trump’s White House press ban on Monday.

“We’re going to see reporters get creative. That’s what we do sometimes when we have to. We’re going to see reporters try and get credentialed in other ways,” Stelter said.

“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 UN tomorrow,” he added.

Klein is a senior White House reporter for CNN. Last week, she reported that Secret Service agents seized her press pass at a White House checkpoint following Trump’s media restrictions.

TRUMP BANS CNN, MS NOW, POLITICO FROM WHITE HOUSE

Trump announced on Friday (September 18) that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the outlets of publishing what he called “fake news”.

The three outlets subsequently filed a lawsuit against Trump and several of his top advisors, arguing that the restrictions on their access amount to a “direct assault on the First Amendment”. A judge hearing the case has given the Trump administration until Tuesday to respond.

The White House television pool announced Monday that it would suspend pooled coverage of Trump, further escalating the dispute over press access.

The impact of the TV pool’s decision was evident later on Monday when Trump’s remarks became inaudible during the inauguration of a new helipad on the White House South Lawn. With the usual pool cameras and microphone absent, the sound of Marine One drowned out the US President's voice in live footage.

The White House subsequently launched 'Trump TV', a 24/7 streaming platform carrying administration announcements, presidential remarks and other coverage related to the US President.

Amid Trump’s ban on the three outlets and the TV networks’ boycott, Melania’s New York City event will go ahead and focus on partnerships with technology companies.

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