Trump isn't done with Kaitlan Collins as he takes feud in unexpected new direction

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump showed no signs of ending his public feud with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, escalating the exchange for a third straight day by sharing an AI-generated image portraying the White House correspondent as transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

The post came after Collins appeared to respond indirectly to Trump's earlier remarks by sharing an Eleanor Roosevelt quote on social media, adding another twist to an increasingly personal back-and-forth.

The latest exchange suggests what began as a joke during the White House Correspondents Dinner has evolved into one of Trump's newest media battles, continuing his long-established pattern of publicly targeting journalists he views as hostile while keeping the confrontation alive well beyond the initial moment.

Trump reignites public media feud

The latest post followed Trump's remarks at Friday's White House Correspondents Dinner, where he joked that Collins resembled Mulvaney, the transgender influencer who became the center of a nationwide political controversy following a 2023 Bud Light partnership.

Addressing the audience, Trump quipped that he initially believed Collins had landed a "major new sponsorship" before saying it was Mulvaney who appeared on the Bud Light can. He also encouraged the CNN anchor to "smile," calling her "a young, attractive woman" while criticizing the network as "fake news."

On Saturday, Collins appeared to answer without naming Trump, posting Eleanor Roosevelt's famous quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." 

Rather than allowing the exchange to fade, Trump returned to the issue on Sunday by posting what appeared to be an AI-generated edit replacing Mulvaney with Collins in imagery resembling the influencer's Bud Light promotion.

Latest chapter in Trump clashes

The episode adds Collins to a long list of prominent journalists who have repeatedly found themselves at the center of Trump's public criticism.

Throughout his political career, Trump has frequently used rallies, press conferences and social media to challenge reporters and news organizations he believes treat him unfairly. Collins, one of CNN's most recognizable White House correspondents, has often engaged Trump during contentious press briefings and campaign events.

While neither Trump nor Collins has directly addressed the AI-generated image, the president's latest post demonstrates that the dispute has extended well beyond a single joke at the Correspondents Dinner. By revisiting the controversy days later, Trump ensured the exchange remained in the public spotlight, turning what began as a one-night quip into a sustained and highly visible feud.