Confrontations at the U.N.

Susan Estrich on Sep 24, 2026

There were at least two notable confrontations at the U.N. this week. One was to be expected: Trump versus Iran:

"I have a big decision to make," President Donald Trump told world leaders. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before -- maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy again?

"Do I drive them into hell," he continued, "with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness?"

Now, normally when the most powerful man in the world threatens to annihilate another country and drive them into hell, you'd expect a lot of attention. And Trump did get attention, although he has threatened Iran in equally vivid language so often in this war that the threats have become all too easy to ignore (even if Iranian diplomats were in the room, and maybe even more so because yet another round of meetings would take place on the side.)

More surprisingly, Trump confronted his local enemies -- the mainstream media. In this case, it was Kaitlan Collins, the chief White House correspondent for CNN, who has been banned from covering Trump.

She was trying to ask the president a question about domestic support for the war. She tried three times.

"I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me," Trump said, referring to the ban imposed by the White House.

Collins responded, "The United Nations allowed us in, sir."

Trump was having none of it.

"You should not be here covering me," Trump replied. "You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me."

Asked about this second confrontation, the White House directed The Washington Post to a Trump Truth Social post that was even more troubling:

"The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish," Trump wrote. "It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!"

The president on Tuesday told reporters that if Kelly, whom he called "not a particularly fair judge," strikes the bans down, Trump will allow the three outlets back in. Still, he said, he should have the right to kick them out.

"I'm talking about national security, and I think we have a right to clean out fake news. You know, news is fake," he said.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico -- the three banned outlets -- filed suit in federal court challenging the White House ban. It should be an easy case for Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee who in 2018 restored then-CNN reporter Jim Acosta's White House press pass. Calling his own appointee "not a particularly fair judge," Trump said he would allow the outlets back in, but gave no signal that he was backing down on this war.

The president's war on the media is, in many respects, as big a threat as his war on Iran. It is nothing less than a war on democracy. Too much news, and too much coming from the White House, is FAKE. Only a vigorous and constitutionally protected press corps can protect us, and give us any hope of access to the truth.

========

To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.