Melania Trump's office grants CNN and Politico access to UN event despite White House ban

President Donald Trump banned CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from White House access on September 18, but his wife Melania Trump’s office credentialed CNN and Politico to cover her September 22 UN General Assembly event in New York, creating an internal administration contradiction. The first lady’s office independently approved the outlets for “Fostering the Future Together,” an education and technology event, despite the president’s ban taking effect one day earlier. CNN confirmed its credential on September 20, and MS NOW did not receive access. The White House did not explain how the decision aligned with Trump’s directive. The three banned outlets have sued Trump and administration officials in federal court, arguing the restrictions constitute unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The administration defends the ban as a privilege, citing national security concerns, while the case was assigned to Judge Timothy Kelly, who previously handled a 2018 CNN press pass dispute.