On Tuesday, President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins during a press briefing at the White House. The confrontation arose after Collins questioned him about the Department of Justice's recent release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Following the signing of legislation to end the partial government shutdown that began over the weekend, Trump opened the floor to questions from the media. Collins, who serves as CNN's White House correspondent, inquired about the newly released files, which include correspondence and names associated with Epstein, and the dissatisfaction of some survivors regarding the redactions made in these documents.
"In the Epstein files, you mentioned Democrats appearing there," Collins stated. "Elon Musk and your Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, are also mentioned in correspondence with him. Have you reviewed these new files released by the Department of Justice?" the journalist asked.
Trump responded, "No, I haven't read them. I have a lot to do, you know? A lot. You mentioned two names; I'm sure they're fine. I'm sure they're fine. Otherwise, they would have made big headlines."
Collins pressed on, "Many of Epstein's survivors are unhappy with the redactions made. Some full interviews are completely blacked out. Do you believe there should be more transparency?"
The president replied that they "are also unhappy with the fact that they believe too much was released." He added, "I think it's time for the country to move on to other things, like healthcare or something that really matters to people."
When Collins attempted to pursue her question further, Trump interrupted: "You're terrible, you know? You're the worst reporter. No wonder CNN has no ratings, because of people like you."
The president continued, "You're a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. I've known you for ten years. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. You know why you don't smile? Because you know you're not telling the truth. You're part of a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed."
The exchange, captured by Fox News, quickly went viral on social media. A clip shared by the account Rapid Response 47 surpassed 900,000 views, and edited versions were circulated by Emma Rincón and Eduardo Menoni, highlighting the president's direct tone.
Later, Kaitlan Collins posted an extended video of the exchange on her X account, showing the full moment of her question about the victims and the president's response. The journalist wrote: "President Trump insists the country should move on from the Epstein files and lashes out when asked about survivors' reactions to the latest Department of Justice release."
According to Yahoo News, a CNN spokesperson told Mediaite, "Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist who reports daily from the White House and the field with depth and tenacity. She brings that work to CNN's set and platforms every day, which audiences worldwide know they can trust."
Collins, who has been CNN's White House correspondent since 2021, replaced Cuban-American journalist Jim Acosta, also known for his confrontations with Trump during his first term. Recognized by Forbes in 2019 as one of the country's most influential people under 30, Collins had previous run-ins with the then-president, who once barred her from attending an event for asking "inappropriate questions."
President Trump, meanwhile, continued taking questions from other reporters and was later overheard commenting quietly to a senator, "She never smiles."
President Trump's Exchange with CNN's Kaitlan Collins
What prompted the clash between Trump and Kaitlan Collins?
The clash was prompted by Collins' questions about the release of Jeffrey Epstein case files and the dissatisfaction of some survivors with the redactions made in these documents.
How did Trump respond to Collins' questions?
Trump dismissed the questions, stating he hadn't read the files and criticized Collins as part of a "very dishonest organization," suggesting CNN should be ashamed.