Dylan Mulvaney supports Kaitlan Collins after Trump targets both at WHCD

WASHINGTON, DC: Dylan Mulvaney publicly showed support for CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins after President Donald Trump targeted both women during his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech on Friday, July 24.

Trump then shared a photoshopped image on Truth Social featuring Collins' face on Mulvaney's body, prompting fresh attention to the incident.

Dylan Mulvaney responds with support for Kaitlan Collins

Mulvaney reacted to the controversy with a subtle but supportive Instagram Stories post on Saturday, July 25.

She shared an inspirational quote, attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, that Collins had posted while recapping the White House Correspondents' Dinner: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 

Mulvaney added three white heart emojis alongside the quote, signaling her support for the CNN anchor after the president's remarks at the annual event.

Collins had been recognized earlier that evening for her 2025 coverage of the Trump administration before becoming the subject of the president's speech.

Trump mocked Kaitlan Collins before bringing up Dylan Mulvaney

While speaking at the dinner, Trump congratulated Collins on receiving her award before questioning its legitimacy.

“I want to personally congratulate CNN's Kaitlan Collins on receiving her award. It was all about me. It's a fake — she shouldn't get the award, it was a fake. But I didn't mind. I said, 'Kaitlan, congratulations.' But it was fake, there's no question about it,” he said. 

The president also commented on Collins' facial expressions, telling her to "just smile," before shifting the focus to Mulvaney and referencing the 2023 Bud Light controversy.

“I thought Kaitlan had really made it big with a major new sponsorship, but then I informed her that it wasn't her on the Bud Light can, it was Dylan Mulvaney,” Trump remarked. 

He went on to criticize Mulvaney's partnership with the beer brand, saying, “Dylan Mulvaney cost Bud Light $35 billion in market cap. That was the worst commercial ever made by the way... I wouldn't want to hire Dylan any time soon.”

Kaitlan Collins highlighted why the First Amendment matters after receiving WHCA award

Following the event, Collins shared photos from the evening, including images with CNN colleague Wolf Blitzer, who presented her award.

She also reflected on what the recognition meant to her, writing that receiving the honor was only part of what made the evening memorable. 

“The second best part of last night's White House Correspondents Dinner was receiving an award from my friend and mentor, @wolfblitzer. The first was reminding everyone why the First Amendment — and asking uncomfortable questions that people in power don't like — matters,” Collins wrote on Instagram. 

On Sunday, Trump escalated the exchange by posting a photoshopped image on Truth Social that showed Collins' face edited onto Mulvaney's body.

In the altered image, the person appeared to be holding a Bud Light beer while sitting at a table with more beers.

Dylan Mulvaney previously reflected on moving past Bud Light backlash 

The renewed attention comes more than a year after Mulvaney's collaboration with Bud Light sparked widespread backlash and a conservative boycott of the brand.

Looking back on that period during a 2025 interview, Mulvaney said she had moved forward from the controversy.

“I am about a thousand times stronger than I was before that situation happened. I'm finally in a place that I have healed, and I'm in such a good mental headspace,” she shared.