18 outlets · filed 23 September 2026

Pandas and Eagles and A.I., Oh My! Trump Throws a State Dinner for Xi

This story is from the archive. It was covered between 23 September 2026 and 25 September 2026, and nothing below has been updated since. See what is happening now.

Altman. Musk. Huang. Bezos. They all came to the White House Thursday night, though you might not have seen it on TV.

New York TimesCBS NewsSouth China Morning PostWashington PostAl JazeeraThe Guardian USThe IndependentBBC NewsCNBCNewsweekAssociated PressNBC NewsCNNFox NewsAxiosReasonFrance 24NPR

18outlets

3videos

51articles

Associated Press

What the coverage shows

Across the coverage, outlets converge on Zelenskyy using the UN platform to frame Ukraine as the war’s victim and to press a wider case to world leaders. The Guardian US alone in the provided extracts foregrounds his line that “Ukraine did not choose this war,” while France 24 says he urged leaders to keep choking Russia’s revenues, and Channel 4 News says the war in Ukraine is dominating the General Assembly. Most other outlets in this set are actually focused on Trump and Iran, so Zelenskyy appears only in a few live or replay items.

Written by Crossfiled from the 54 headlines and extracts below, not from the articles themselves. It describes how the outlets framed this, not what happened. Open any headline for a summary of that article.

How it broke

23 Sep 12:26 NBC News Judge set to rule on Trump administration’s rationale for White House media ban

23 Sep 15:03 NBC News Trump welcomes Xi for a White House summit set to be high on pageantry, low on substance

23 Sep 16:53 Washington Post Trump’s White House media ban may be on shaky ground

23 Sep 20:49 CBS News Judge skeptical of Trump's White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

24 Sep 05:31 NBC News CNN, MS NOW and Politico allowed back at the White House after judge blocked Trump’s ban

24 Sep 05:38 Reason TRO Issued Ordering Reinstatement of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico White House Access

24 Sep 11:10 NPR Judge restores journalists' White House access. And, Tucker Carlson on his MAGA split

24 Sep 12:41 South China Morning Post Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping

24 Sep 13:20 CBS News What to expect from Trump-Xi summit at White House

24 Sep 13:23 Axios White House ordered to restore access to banned news outlets

24 Sep 13:30 Reason Journalists Still Barred From White House

24 Sep 14:36 NBC News White House still turning away some media outlets despite order

24 Sep 14:40 France 24 United States: Trump's unconventional welcome for Xi's state visit

24 Sep 16:33 Reason White House Says It's Complying with TRO Requiring Restoration of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Reporters' Access, Despite …

24 Sep 16:55 Reason Trump Reportedly Rejected Building Codes for His White House Ballroom

24 Sep 17:29 The Independent White House reveals stories that got outlets banned — and JD Vance was one of the sources

24 Sep 17:43 CBS News Journalists regain access to White House after judge blocks Trump's media ban

24 Sep 17:45 The Guardian US CNN reporter arrives at White House after judge rules against Trump's media ban – video

24 Sep 17:58 Axios White House reinstates access for banned reporters

24 Sep 18:38 The Independent Trump team reluctantly lets CNN and MS NOW back in White House after denying them entry against judge’s order

24 Sep 19:02 New York Times Conservative Outlets Offer Trump Feed While White House TV Pool Is Suspended

24 Sep 19:17 New York Times Who Is the Trump-Appointed Judge Who Blocked the White House Media Ban?

24 Sep 19:43 New York Times As Trump Hosts State Dinner Honoring Xi, See the Menu

24 Sep 19:46 CNBC White House allows blocked reporters in after judge lifts Trump ban

24 Sep 20:52 Associated Press Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House with a military review

24 Sep 21:12 The Independent Trump and Xi clash over AI at tense US state visit

24 Sep 21:34 Fox News What's on the menu for Trump's state dinner with China's Xi? One American staple is notably missing

24 Sep 21:36 New York Times Trump Hosts China’s Leader for a State Visit

24 Sep 21:39 CNN How reporters were allowed back into the White House

24 Sep 21:41 Al Jazeera Trump and Xi hold critical talks at White House summit

24 Sep 21:53 The Independent Trump’s aide Natalie Harp who has come under scrutiny for her influence dishes on life in the White House

24 Sep 22:09 CNBC Trump, Xi to attend state dinner after White House meeting

24 Sep 22:55 New York Times Trump Is Hosting Xi for a State Dinner. It’s a Rarity for the U.S. President.

24 Sep 23:07 New York Times White House Restores Access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico

24 Sep 23:18 CBS News Trump hosts Xi Jinping at White House, praising a "truly great friendship"

25 Sep 00:09 The Guardian US Trump touts ‘great meeting’ with Xi at White House – as it happened

25 Sep 00:17 South China Morning Post Culinary diplomacy on the menu for Xi and Trump at the White House

25 Sep 00:32 NBC News CNN, MS Now turned away from state dinner event despite court order to restore access

25 Sep 00:38 New York Times In Trump’s White House, China’s Dictator Is Welcome. American Media, Less So.

25 Sep 00:45 Associated Press Trump welcomes Xi Jinping for a state dinner at the White House

25 Sep 00:53 Newsweek Trump Goes 'Off Script' at State Dinner with Ballroom Invite

25 Sep 01:02 CNBC Here's who is attending the Trump-Xi state dinner

25 Sep 01:10 BBC News Media outlets banned by Trump denied access to White House dinner despite judge's order

25 Sep 01:13 South China Morning Post How was dinner? Takeaways from Xi and Trump’s evening at the White House

25 Sep 01:25 New York Times Full Guest List for Trump’s State Dinner With Xi

25 Sep 01:56 The Independent Trump offers Xi state dinner guests first-ever tour of ballroom construction site: ‘Special treat’

25 Sep 01:56 The Guardian US CNN and MS Now journalists denied access to White House state dinner despite court ruling

25 Sep 02:00 The Guardian US Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping will not be televised as White House continues to deny CNN full access – as it happened

25 Sep 02:00 Al Jazeera Trump praises US-China friendship at state dinner with Xi Jinping

25 Sep 02:05 Washington Post Who is attending the White House dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping?

25 Sep 02:16 New York Times Trump and Xi Exchange Symbolic Gifts Ahead of State Dinner

25 Sep 03:13 South China Morning Post China’s Xi shares a rare laugh on White House tour at Trump’s Biden autopen joke

25 Sep 03:13 CBS News Trump welcomes China's Xi for state dinner at White House

25 Sep 03:32 New York Times Pandas and Eagles and A.I., Oh My! Trump Throws a State Dinner for Xi