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Trump Hosts Chinese Leader at White House; Polls on Corruption; CNN and Others Request Emergency Hearing on White House Access. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 24, 2026 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:30:00]

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Eight hours ago, like you said, like Betsy said, the White House office hours are 24/7 and we have reporters there at four, five a.m. most days.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: And it should be noted that the president has been on Truth Social this morning and sending out messages on other things.

HONIG: Right. So, we know he's awake.

SIDNER: So, we know he's awake and putting stuff out there.

Elie Honig, it is good to have you.

HONIG: Thanks, Sara.

SIDNER: Thank you for clarifying.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And as we're talking about it, it's a very busy day and consequential day at the White House. President Trump is about to be welcoming the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to the White House grounds. And one of the big topics on the agenda, A.I., of course, as new CNN poll numbers reveal most Americans are afraid of what's happening in the rapid advances there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the breaking news, again, that is the White House. Live pictures of the White House.

Overnight, a judge ordered the administration to let reporters from CNN, "Politico" and MS Now back on White House grounds. Remember, the president banned these news services from the White House grounds last Friday.

[09:35:05]

Overnight, a judge said that was done without due process and they needed to be allowed back in immediately. But it hasn't really happened yet. Our Betsy Klein was turned away at

least three times from the White House this morning when she tried to get back in. One of our photojournalists had his press badge seized. "Politico" is reporting their people are having trouble getting in as well.

So, we're trying to figure out what's happening here. Is this just bureaucracy, is this just a slow-moving process, or is this a in deliberate defiance of the courts orders? So, stand by for this developing story on that front.

In the meantime, the president is set to meet with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping today, part of a three-day visit. The president just posted this on social media. He wrote, quote, "I met with President Xi at the plane (Airport!) yesterday and he looks strong, vibrant and fit - better than ever. Madam Xi, of course, beautiful!" And he signed it, "President DJT."

With us now, Alice Han, she's the director of Greenmantle and co-host of "The China Decode" podcast, and Gordon Chang, author of "Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America." Sorry, Gordon, had a problem with the title of your book there.

The president calling President Xi, you know, vibrant and fit prior to these meetings. I know there had been some reports questioning Xi's health, but, still, is that the kind of statement you make before you're going in for hard-hitting negotiations?

GORDON CHANG, AUTHOR, "PLAN RED: CHINA'S PROJECT TO DESTROY AMERICA": No, it's not. And we know that there are problems. At the opening ceremony for the BRICS grouping in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to stop mid-sentence because there was obviously some sort of health incident with Xi Jinping. And Xi Jinping did not attend the closing gala dinner, which was really unusual.

So, something is up. There's a lot of speculation about things that have occurred recently that we don't know because they're extremely secretive. But clearly, he is not in good health. And by the way, as he came down the stairs from his plane yesterday, it did not look like he was vibrant.

BERMAN: So, why do you think the president is puffing him up then, Gordon?

CHANG: I think that that's just President Trump's standard operating procedure when it comes to Xi Jinping. He has a very interesting game when it comes to the Chinese leader. I'm not exactly sure what's going on. I don't like it. But the point is, that's President Trump. And we'll just have to wait and see.

BERMAN: Alice, what do you think the expectations are on the Chinese side for these three days in the United States?

ALICE HAN, DIRECTOR, GREENMANTLE: Look, my mentality going into this was always that this was going to be light on real substance, but high on symbolism. And certainly, what you've just said, John, the statements about Xi and the relationship indicate that both parties, both Trump and Xi, are invested in making this a very positive trip and a positive relationship. I don't think we'll get more details in terms of A.I. regulations or guardrails, which has long been speculated. We've already heard the announcement by Bessent that there'll be a two month extension on the truce for rare earths and tariffs. I don't think we'll have major announcements on that front.

In general, I think this will be teeing up a more important trip, which I think may happen if Trump goes to China in Shenzhen for APEC in November, or if Trump -- if Xi, rather, comes to Miami in December for G-20. That will be the next call it three our four opportunities, third or fourth opportunities for the two parties to meet.

BERMAN: If it is light on substance, as you say, why is the style then apparently so important to both sides, not just the United States, but also we understand China really wanted a lot of this pageantry.

HAN: Yes. Well, so from the U.S. side, you know, this is coming at a time in which we're seeing, you know, massive oil supply disruptions put -- pushing Brent north of 100, diesel, gasoline prices flaring, not just in the states, but globally. A lot of allies are moving away from America to diversify and find multilateral frameworks outside of the U.S., call it Canada, European Union, even parts of southeast Asia and east Asia. And on the -- so, he's invested in making sure that the positive side of the China-U.S. relationship can show that he's strong on foreign policy.

On the China side, they do have concerns about the asymmetry in their relationship. And here I'd point primarily to A.I. I do think that the Chinese are very worried about A.I. capabilities pulling ahead of what's happening in the mainland, not just with the frontier labs, but also the way in which it's being used for military purposes. So, I do think, in the short term, the Chinese want a good, stable relationship because they rely on the U.S. a lot for trade. They rely on stability in the relationship in geopolitical terms, and they are worried about the A.I. risks in where America seems to be still in the number one position.

[09:40:01]

BERMAN: So, Gordon, obviously, Chinese officials can read the polls in the United States, and they know the president is sagging in those polls and has problems domestically. However, you also argue that President Xi has got his own domestic issues and comes in weakened. How so?

CHANG: We have seen turbulence, especially over the last two years, in the Chinese military, but that's been especially pronounced this year. You had General Zhang Youxia, who was the most senior officer, he was put under investigation at the end of January. He's just been stripped of Communist Party membership. He was once an ally of Xi Jinping, but has become an adversary. And there are other signs of discord at the top of the Chinese political system.

Because that system has become more secretive under Xi Jinping, it's harder to understand what's occurring. But we are seeing things that do not occur in periods of stability. I think that the reason that this is important for us is because it limits Xi Jinping's room for maneuver. I don't think that he can act constructively. And even if he comes to promises with President Trump, I'm not sure that he can actually adhere to them. So, this is a Chinese political system that is in turmoil.

And, John, you'd expect that because the Chinese economy is showing obvious signs of distress. And that is critically important to the Communist Party and to Xi Jinping personally himself.

BERMAN: Well, we will wait and see what comes of these meetings. Unclear whether cameras will be in there filming, because we're not quite sure we'll be there to cover it.

But Gordon Chang, Alice Han, thank you both for being with us this morning. Appreciate it.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, ahead, the rare September noreaster set to slam several states with flooding, powerful winds, heavy rains. The spots that might get hit the hardest. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:46:33]

BERMAN: All right, this morning, this question, is it just John Curtis, the Republican senator from Utah, so far is the only Republican formally calling for an investigation into Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, which was -- there were a couple of parties at that wedding that were funded by a Russian oligarch with ties to Putin. And it does come at a time we are starting to see a shift among voters about how they feel on the parties and issues and questions of corruption.

With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

So, talk to me about what the polls have been showing on that broader issue of corruption.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, this, to me, is one of the biggest trends that we have seen from when Donald Trump was first elected back in 2016. One, of course, Donald Trump's big nicknames was crooked Hillary. We are a long way from crooked Hillary.

Look at this. OK, voters on Trump and corruption. Versus Hillary Clinton, he was more trusted on corruption back in November of 2016. It was a big reason why he got to the White House in the first place. He was more trusted by ten points.

But look at his net approval rating right now on corruption. It's now minus 33 points. Among independents, it's minus 47 points. Corruption, which was a big reason why -- the issue of corruption, a big reason why Donald Trump got into the White House in the first place, is now a weakness for him. This is a shift, Johnny B., of 43 points away from the president of the United States on really the key issue that, again, got him elected in the first place.

BERMAN: And is it contagious? We've been asking about contagion --

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: Does this go beyond Donald Trump to Republicans?

ENTEN: To me, it is very much contagious and very much goes to Republicans and reminds me of an election that Democrats will very much like the comparison to, that is 2006. Of course, corruption played a key role in the 2006 election, helped get Democrats elected, help them win in a number of red areas.

Trust which party more on corruption? Back in 2006, Democrats were more trusted on the issue of corruption by nine points. Look at this. If anything, their lead is a little bit wider right now. They're more trusted on the issue of corruption by 11 points. That's a two-point shift from an election that Democrats did very well in. And they didn't just win the United States House of Representatives, they won the United States Senate as well. This is an analogy that, I think, Democrats would really, really like.

BERMAN: Yes. You know, '94 there were -- when the Republicans took over, there were issues of corruption as well. It often does seep into wave elections. I don't know if this is going to be a wave or not, but it does sometimes correlate.

What are voters saying about corruption being one of their top issues?

ENTEN: And this is the other reason why, right? Why is this 11 point lead so important? Just ask. OK, top problems facing the country. We can list up to two issues. This is a recent NBC News poll. Look at this, 44 percent said inflation. But look at what was number two. Government corruption comes in at 36 percent. This is an issue that can drive voters from one party to another. And in this point, when you're seeing that the Democrats have an 11-point lead and you're seeing that corruption is the number two issue, along with inflation, that's a very, very big deal.

BERMAN: Very quickly, there's a candidate on the ballot in Texas for Senate who has been impeached, right?

ENTEN: Yes, that's exactly right. That was Ken Paxton. James Talarico making a big deal of it. Chance to win the Texas Senate race according to Kalshi prediction market. James Talarico, 43 percent two months ago. Look where it is now. Up like a rocket, up to 56 percent. He has really been going after Ken Paxton on this. It seems to be working for him.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you, my friend.

BERMAN: Truly do have a lot of news this morning.

We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:54:20]

BOLDUAN: All right, we have some breaking news coming in right now on the legal fight over press access, including CNN, to the White House.

Let's get to CNN's Katelyn Polantz. Katelyn has this news coming in.

Katelyn, what are you learning?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The press passes are not in the hands of the journalists that tried to go to the White House and enter this morning. And this is already heating up in court.

CNN, MS Now and "Politico," their legal team has notified the judge that the Justice Department, the Trump administration, appears not to have reinstated, returned or restored these hard passes, the judge said, had to be given back to the news organizations immediately.

[09:55:04]

That was in the judge's order last night, just before 1 a.m.

And as of right now, just before 10 a.m.. So, several hours later, the White House does not appear to be doing so.

What the legal team for the media organizations is asking for, they want this judge to hold a hearing as soon as possible this morning. And they also say that they have reached out to lawyers for the Trump administration, that would be the Justice Department, so that everyone could get on the phone and call the court together, get on the phone with the judge, Tim Kelly, this morning.

They say in this new two-page notice to the judge, this request to the judge for a hearing, that the lawyers for the Trump administration, the Justice Department, is not responding to the media organizations at this time.

There is a lot of moving parts here, but this is something we're going to need to watch play out in real time. What happens in this standoff right now between the White House Press Corps and the White House itself?

SIDNER: Katelyn, thank you to you.

Let's go now to CNN legal analyst and attorney Joey Jackson, who is joining us as well.

Give us a sense, because right now the three different agencies are saying, hey, we are not allowed access. Do you, a, see this as, look, the White House is completely breaking the law here and going against the judge. And, b, what is the remedy?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. Good to be with you, Sara, John and Kate. Listen, the bottom line here is that we are off the rails, right? I'm just calling this as I see it, right. Generally, there are legal discussions, there are legal formalities. I'll cite rules and principles and we'll analyze the law consistent with those principles. Let's start there.

The principle is, is that there is an order. That order could not be any clearer. The order says that, based upon due process grounds, you need process. Due processes is notice and an opportunity to be heard. You, without unilaterally the White House revoked these credentials. No hearing, no notice, no anything. Go, leave. And of course the court said that that's improper. It's offensive to the Constitution, the Fifth Amendment due process. And, by the way, it seems to be predicated upon a viewpoint, not this national security issue, which is nonexistent.

Now, when a judge issues an order in the real world in the United States of America, that order is followed. There's no question as to it. There's no -- there's no real gray area or anything that no one doesn't understand. It says, get them back into the courthouse.

The orders issued earlier this morning. Here we are. It's almost 10:00. And the credentials haven't been restored. Why? And so, I think what's going to happen is, there'll be a hearing. The judge is going to want clarity with respect to what's going on.

Katelyn Polantz just told us that the organization, CNN, is trying to get in touch with the Department of Justice lawyers, and there's no response. Are you serious? Like, that's just not the way this should work. This is problematic where, I don't want to be overly dramatic, but you have to comply with the law. And if you're the president, and you have control of the military and everything else and you're in noncompliance, the question becomes, to your point, what do you do? Well, what you do is you get a judge involved. The judge says, hey, maybe there's discrepancies, maybe there's not. Why are you not complying? Comply immediately. Then if you don't comply, you go into this other realm of getting the officials involved and holding them in contempt. Then if that really gets resolved, then you get to the actual president himself.

We're in uncharted territory here. This is just patently absurd, and it's not what we expect in the United States of America.

BERMAN: To be clear, the judge was unambiguous overnight ruling that journalists from CNN, MS Now and "Politico" needed to be allowed back in.

What happened to Betsy? Betsy had had her pass revoked, taken away on Friday. She did not have a pass. So, we thought maybe when she wasn't getting in that it was, oh, it has to be processed or some bureaucratic mess going on here.

But I want to point out that in the filing that CNN and the other organizations just made, they point out, this morning, journalists from each of CNN, MS Now, and "Politico" attempted to enter the White House and were turned away, and Secret Service agents confiscated the hard pass of journalists whose hard passes had not been previously confiscated.

So, this is taking sort of action, new action, to basically keep these reporters out by taking their hard passes. How does that play in here, Joey, very quickly.

JACKSON: It plays very significantly. The judge, as you noted, it was unambiguous. It was unequivocal. There was a clear violation of the law. Shouldn't have been kicked out. What your excuse was fake news, this, that, the other thing. It's viewpoint discrimination. Not that the judge held that. It was essentially because there was no process involved.

[10:00:00]

What are we doing?

And now you take further action. We're in a tough place, John, Kate and Sara, to say the least.

BOLDUAN: Uncharted territory