Trump's 29% Approval Rating and UN Clash with CNN Spark Late-Night Mockery and Legal Battles
Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 29%, a figure late-night hosts compared to Ebola and Ed Sheeran. This decline coincides with a media crisis: Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, prompting other networks to suspend coverage in protest. At the United Nations, Trump berated CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for covering him, while a legal challenge to the ban is set to be heard by a judge on Wednesday.
Key points
- Trump’s approval rating hit 29%, described by Jimmy Kimmel as 'somewhere between Ebola and Ed Sheeran.'
- CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are suing the government over the White House press ban, with arguments scheduled for Wednesday.
- Trump berated CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at the UN, claiming she should not be covering him despite UN credentials.
- Five major networks, including Fox News, suspended White House pool duties in solidarity with the banned outlets.
- Trump launched a YouTube channel called 'Trump TV,' which Kimmel mocked for having only 8,000 viewers.
Background
This week’s events follow a period of heightened tension between the White House and media. Earlier in September, late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert had already been critiquing Trump’s policies and media relations. The current crisis escalates previous disputes, such as the 2025 suspension of Kimmel over controversial jokes, into a broader constitutional battle over press access.
How outlets are covering it
The Guardian and The Daily Beast highlight the comedic and public relations fallout, focusing on late-night hosts mocking Trump’s low approval rating and his new 'Trump TV' channel. The Washington Post provides the factual core of the legal and diplomatic conflict, detailing the confrontation between Trump and Kaitlan Collins at the UN and the upcoming court hearing. While The Daily Beast emphasizes Collins’s rebuttal and the administration’s internal doubts about the ban’s legality, The Washington Post notes Trump’s insistence on his right to exclude 'fake news' despite the legal challenges.
Why it matters
The 29% approval rating signals a significant drop in public support, potentially impacting Trump’s political leverage. The legal battle over the press ban could set a precedent for media access in the White House, while the suspension of coverage by major networks indicates a deepening rift between the administration and the press corps.
What to watch
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly will hear arguments on Wednesday regarding the constitutionality of the press ban. Trump has stated he will allow the outlets back if the ban is struck down. Additionally, Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington starting Wednesday, a meeting that may be affected by the ongoing media dispute.
- Jimmy Kimmel on Trump’s approval rating: ‘somewhere between Ebola and Ed Sheeran’ The Guardian
- Here’s How to Stop Trump From Abusing CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Yahoo
- ‘You should not be here,’ Trump tells CNN at UN as standoff with media outlets persists AP News
- Trump berates CNN’s Kaitlan Collins after ban: ‘You shouldn’t be covering me’ The Washington Post
- Kaitlan Collins Embarrasses Trump by Exposing Brutal Truth The Daily Beast
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