- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian journalist, Simon Ateba, has accused the CNN, MSNBC, Politico, and other foreign media outlets for looking away when he was banned from covering the White House.
Ateba, who worked with The News Magazine before relocating to the United States, made the allegation while speaking in interview on Real America’s Voice TV on Thursday.
Reacting to the recent ban of the CNN MS Now, and Politico by President Donald Trump, Ateba recalled facing similar ordeal in 2023 when he was banned from the White House.
The publisher of The Daily Letters and Chief White House Correspondent recounted his ordeal, disclosing how his ban by the administration of former President Joe Biden wreck him financially with CNN, MSNBC, and Politico failing to come to his support unlike other media outlets.
‘It’s funny to me watching them freak out that they’ve been banned. They were not kind to me.
‘They didn’t show me any mercy. I was banned for doing my job, asking questions that the American people really care about.
‘I was banned in 2023 for doing my job. They also ruined me financially. I actually lost my apartment.
‘I’m a bit sad that President Trump has not lifted the ban on me. They didn’t treat me well.
‘You were there for me, Fox News was there for me, the New York Post was there for me.
‘CNN wasn’t there for me, MSNBC wasn’t there for me, Politico wasn’t there for me. In fact, they were against me.’ He said.
Ateba further accused former President Barack Obama of also not been there for him, stressing that he suffered racism from the leftist administration.
‘President Obama wasn’t there for me.
‘I’m black, intelligent, I asked real questions and I’m fresh, but they don’t like that.
‘They used to accuse the Right of being racists. But I suffered great racism on the left by Press Secretary who was also black like me.
‘They were not there. They don’t believe that you belong. They don’t believe that real American voice should be there.
‘They don’t believe that I should be there. They don’t even believe that News Max or Fox News should be there.
‘They believe that they should be there and we do not deserve to be there. It’s a shame to see them freak out and complain and going to court.’ He said.
Ateba claimed that the White House press briefing has fallign short of standard since his ban as he accused fellow Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, on not doing her job.
‘Most people who watch the press briefing since I left realise that there has not been a single question.
‘No American person who watches the White House briefing and says, ‘Yes. Kaitlan Collins asks a question that changed my life today.’”
‘They are not doing their job. They are not asking the real questions. It is just about drama and attacks.’ He said.
