Fox News joins outrage after CNN reporter banned from White House Trump event for asking questions about Playboy affair

Donald Trump's favourite TV network Fox News has joined with other media outlets to condemn the White House for banning a reporter from an event. 

Kaitlan Collins, CNN's White House reporter, was banned from a Rose Garden event after asking the US president about Russian president Vladimir Putin and secret recordings made by his former lawyer.

Fox News, a conservative rival broadcaster, said it "stood with CNN" over the issue and condemned the White House decision. 

Jay Wallace, the network's president, said in a statement: “We stand in strong solidarity with CNN for the right to full access for our journalists as part of a free and unfettered press."

Ms Collins attended a photo call between Mr Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, on Wednesday as part of the White House pool.

The pool is a rotating group of journalists who share responsibility for covering the president's daily schedule and share their reports among news organisations. 

While covering the event, Ms Collins can be heard asking Mr Trump: "Did Michael Cohen betray you, Mr President? Mr President, are you worried about what Michael Cohen is going to say to prosecutors?"

The questions were a reference to the president's former lawyer, who recently shared audio recordings of the two men discussing a payment to a Playboy model who alleges she had an affair with Mr Trump.

Ms Collins also asked Mr Trump: "Why has Vladimir Putin not accepted your invitation?" 

The president repeatedly ignored the questions. Shortly afterwards, Ms Collins was told she was not welcome at a press conference between Mr Trump and Mr Juncker. 

Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, and Bill Shine, the communications director and a former Fox executive, were reportedly behind the decision to ban the reporter.

Ms Sanders said the reporter had shouted questions and refused to leave.

“At the conclusion of a press event in the Oval Office a reporter shouted questions and refused to leave despite repeatedly being asked to do so,” she said in a statement.

“Subsequently, our staff informed her she was not welcome to participate in the next event, but made clear that any other journalist from her network could attend.

"To be clear, we support a free press and ask that everyone be respectful of the presidency and guests at the White House.”

CNN rebuked the decision, saying in a statement: “Collins was told by White House deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine and press secretary Sarah Sanders that her questions were ‘inappropriate.’ They were not. 

"Just because the White House is uncomfortable with a question regarding the news of day doesn’t mean the question isn’t relevant and shouldn’t be asked”.

Other members of the White House pool have pointed out that shouting questions during events is a standard practice among all reporters.

Bret Baier, a Fox News anchor, said on Wednesday night's show: "As a member of the White House press pool, Fox stands firmly with CNN on this issue of access”.

The White House has had a fraught relationship with CNN, a left-leaning network, which is frequently critical of the Trump administration. 

Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to the broadcaster as "fake news CNN" and urged Americans to watch Fox News, which is broadly supportive of the president.

The move to keep Ms Collins away from the event was met with condemnation by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA).

“We strongly condemn the White House's misguided and inappropriate decision today to bar one of our members from an open press event after she asked questions they did not like,” WHCA President Olivier Knox said in a statement.

“This type of retaliation is wholly inappropriate, wrong-headed, and weak. It cannot stand. Reporters asking questions of powerful government officials, up to and including the president, helps hold those people accountable. 

"In our republic, the WHCA supports the prerogative of all reporters to do their jobs without fear of reprisal from the government.”