On Friday, as the news cycle focusing on the Trump White House barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico seemed near its close, ABC World News Tonight was the only network evening newscast to still mention the ban of the network after they were allowed back on White House grounds after a court order. ABC’s report from Rachel Scott bashed President Trump and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping’s summit and their visit to the National Archives today, which included seeing the Constitution.
Over the past two episodes of World News Tonight, ABC propped up Iran and its President during his visit to the country for the U.N. General Assembly, while notably minimizing U.N. speeches by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.
Scott began her report on the US-China summit and seemed to question if there were any accomplishments from the world leaders' meeting:
Friday’s ABC World News Tonight was the only network newscast to still mention the previous barring of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House this week, as ABC’s Rachel Scott used President Trump’s and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the National Archives and the… pic.twitter.com/vJ6AA85Lbd
— Nick (@nspin310) September 25, 2026
President Trump heralding his two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as one of, quote, "Friendship, strength, and success," but revealing few details of what was actually accomplished.
Then, Scott painted Trump as evasive to questions over Iran and AI, as shouted reporter questions on AI and China buying Iranian oil played. Scott interjected, “No answer from the president.”
Furthermore, Scott got her hit in on Trump visiting the National Archives and observing the Constitution, as she cited the media bans:
President Trump then taking XI to the National Archives to view the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, with the First Amendment, the same week, he tried to ban three news organizations from the White House.
The press once again making a story about themselves.
Later, Scott closed her report with more bashing of Trump, this time over Iran:
David, Trump and Xi wrapping up their summit as world leaders conclude their annual gathering at the U.N. here in New York. The president insists the war with Iran will be over soon, but it's unclear when that will happen. David?
NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News gave much simpler reports on the end of the summit. After reporting on the summit, NBC focused on a proposed 7-day ceasefire proposal by Iran its its conflict with the US, which the Wall Street Journal later reported was denied by Trump.
CBS also covered the last day of the summit with White House correspondent Weijia Jiang before she shared more Trump news on the Supreme Court allowing the Social Security database to be used to check if registered voters are citizens.
CBS’s and NBC’s selected coverage stood out, especially when ABC’s Scott still remained focused on news involving her own industry and added it to her China summit story
The transcript from the ABC World News Tonight story is below. Click "expand":
ABC World News Tonight
September 25, 2026
6:41:41 PM Eastern
RACHEL SCOTT: President Trump heralding his two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as one of, quote, “friendship, strength, and success,” but revealing few details of what was actually accomplished.
REPORTER 1 [SHOUTED QUESTION TO TRUMP]: Mr. President, did you call on President Xi to stop buying oil from Iran? Any new guardrails on AI?
RACHEL SCOTT: No answer from the president.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. Everybody.
SCOTT: Over tea, the president again touting progress.
TRUMP: We made great strides, very positive for both countries.
SCOTT: President Trump then taking XI to the National Archives to view the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, with the First Amendment, the same week, he tried to ban three news organizations from the White House.
The president, citing China's long history and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
TRUMP: We're just comparing. Ours go 250 years, which is great, and we're proud of it. But theirs goes 6,000 years. So, there's a little difference between 6,000 and 250. But we're very proud of our 250.
SCOTT: Reporters asking again about China's support for Iran in its war against the U.S.
REPORTER 2: During the discussions with President Xi, did you discuss the war with Iran?
TRUMP: We did.
REPORTER 3: Did he offer you anything concrete?
REPORTER 2: Do you think there will be progress made in the Strait of Hormuz?
TRUMP: I think we're going to do great.
[Cuts back to live]
SCOTT: David, Trump and Xi wrapping up their summit as world leaders conclude their annual gathering at the U.N. here in New York. The president insists the war with Iran will be over soon, but it's unclear when that will happen. David?
(...)
