CNN's Kaitlan Collins admits Trump 'embraced media' more than his predecessors

Kaitlan Collins said she had kept a 'running list' of questions for every White House event as Trump often turned any moment into a press conference
UPDATED OCT 8, 2025
Kaitlan Collins noted that she had previously called President Donald Trump for comments, highlighting his accessibility to the media (Screengrab/@TheChiefNerd/X, Getty Images)
Kaitlan Collins noted that she had previously called President Donald Trump for comments, highlighting his accessibility to the media (Screengrab/@TheChiefNerd/X, Getty Images)


 

WASHINGTON, DC: CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins has acknowledged that President Donald Trump “embraced” the media in ways few presidents have, crediting him for reshaping how the White House interacts with reporters, even as the two have often clashed publicly.

During an appearance on Jason Tartick’s 'Trading Secrets' podcast on Monday, October 7, Collins reflected on her years covering the Trump and Biden administrations, saying Trump’s approach to the press was vastly different from his predecessors.

Journalist and CNN news anchor Kaitlan Collins (C) and other journalist raise their hands during a joint press conference between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the East Room at the White House on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Shigeru, who took office in October, is the first Asian leader to visit Trump since he returned to the White House last month. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Journalist and CNN news anchor Kaitlan Collins (C) and other journalist raise their hands during a joint press conference between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the East Room at the White House on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Donald Trump ‘embraced’ press unlike other presidents, says Kaitlan Collins

Collins, who covered the Trump White House for CNN before becoming an anchor, said that Trump’s willingness to engage directly with reporters set him apart from other presidents, including Barack Obama.

President Donald Trump addressed the brutal Charlotte light rail stabbing during a Maryland appearance on Sunday, September 7 (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump addressed the brutal Charlotte light rail stabbing during a Maryland appearance on Sunday, September 7 (Getty Images)

“When you speak to reporters who covered President Obama, he almost never responded to shouted questions,” Collins said. “It wasn’t his thing. He would have his moments with world leaders, and then you would leave the Oval. Trump kind of upended that when he came into the White House. Sometimes presidents are press-averse. Trump embraced the media.”

She noted that Trump’s familiarity with publicity long predated his political career.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on September 7, 2025 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump traveled to New York to attend the U.S. Open men’s singles final. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
 Donald Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on September 7, 2025 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“He did it for decades as like this New York mogul, and so he just had a different approach to the press and always has long before taking office,” she said. “Most politicians are not very press-savvy. It kind of depends on who it is.”

Kaitlan Collins says she keeps ‘running list’ of questions to stay ready for Trump’s sudden interactions

The CNN anchor shared that Trump often made spontaneous press interactions part of his daily routine, forcing reporters to stay constantly prepared.

“Trump will swear someone in, and then he’ll turn to you and say, ‘Any questions?’ And he’ll take questions for 45 minutes,” Collins said.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Marine One on September 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is heading to Mount Vernon, Virginia to deliver a speech at the American Cornerstone Institute Founders Dinner. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Marine One on September 20, 2025 in Washington, DC ( Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

To keep up, Collins said she maintains “a running list” of potential questions for every White House event because “Trump has been known to turn almost any situation into a press conference.”

Calling Donald Trump directly for comment

Kaitlan Collins also revealed that she has personally called Trump for comments on major breaking news stories, something she said is rare for sitting presidents.

“I would just call him directly,” she said. “I didn’t make a habit out of it, but if there was something huge happening, ike the day of the Mar-a-Lago raid when the FBI showed up and executed a search warrant over the classified documents, I just called him directly and asked if this is true. And it was true. And he sent me the statement immediately confirming it.”

The anecdote highlights Trump’s accessibility to the media, despite his frequent criticisms of outlets like CNN and individual reporters such as Collins herself.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Kaitlan Collins attends 2024 Time100 Next at Chelsea Piers on October 09, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic)
Kaitlan Collins attends 2024 Time100 Next at Chelsea Piers on October 09, 2024 in New York City (TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic)

Collins and Trump have famously sparred during press briefings, with the president calling her a “low-rated anchor” and mocking CNN’s viewership.

However, Collins credited Trump and his team for maintaining a level of press openness even amid heated exchanges.

She recalled an incident during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May, when she shouted a question to the president while he stood alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The royal guard reportedly reprimanded her, saying she could not attend the next event.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt introduces Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East to speak to the press outside of the White House on March 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Witkoff spoke to the press about a range of foreign policy issues including peace talks involving Ukraine and Russia and the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt introduces Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East to speak to the press outside of the White House on March 06, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“To Karoline Leavitt’s credit, she was like, ‘No, Kaitlan’s coming in with the rest of the US press,’” Collins said, referring to Trump’s White House press secretary. “So I went into the next event. But I think things like that, you can disagree about questions and briefings and whatnot. Press access is key and every administration, I think, should protect that.”

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