Ellison Attends Xi Dinner as CNN Staff Are Denied Access

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison attended the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, September 24, while CNN and MS NOW staff were reported to have been denied access to cover the event. The guest list, released by the White House, placed Ellison among more than 100 officials, executives and other invitees gathered for the dinner hosted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. CNN reported that a producer and reporter were stopped while attempting to cover Xi’s arrival. MS NOW staff were also reported to have been prevented from covering the arrival. The accounts do not establish the White House’s reason for restricting access or the precise criteria it applied to journalists at the event. The dinner access dispute followed a court-ordered restoration of press credentials. Reports said CNN, MS NOW and Politico had sued after losing access to White House events, and a federal judge ordered their credentials restored. The White House reissued press passes on Thursday morning, according to reports, but the outlets’ staff were later unable to cover the dinner.