Major TV Networks Skip Trump's Xi Welcome as White House Press Ban Sparks Legal Fight

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, but major U.S. networks did not air the rare diplomatic greeting live, amid ongoing tensions and a White House press ban. The decision by CNN, Fox News, and MSNOW to skip live coverage follows Trump's ban of CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House, which sparked backlash and a legal hearing Wednesday. The White House live-streamed the event on social media, while conservative outlets like Real America's Voice and OANN covered it. The media ban, announced last week over "fake news" claims, faces a First Amendment challenge from the White House Correspondents' Association. The greeting occurs against a backdrop of disputes over artificial intelligence, trade, and other policies between the two nations.