Trump slams ‘dumb’ Kaitlan Collins and ‘unattractive’ Maggie Haberman in back-to-back attacks

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, September 8, launched attacks against CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, criticizing both journalists over their recent coverage.

Trump called Collins a “third-rate” anchor while accusing her CNN panel of containing “fiction and lies.” The president then turned his attention to Haberman, attacking her reporting about his plans for September 11 events and demanding a retraction.

Trump targets Kaitlan Collins, calls her ‘very dumb and unhappy’

Trump first targeted Collins in a post on Truth Social, criticizing a CNN panel discussion. He questioned the network’s ratings and accused the panelists of discussing issues inaccurately.

“Very dumb and unhappy Fake News CNN ‘reporter,’ Kaitlan Collins (really low ratings, also!), had a panel where discussions were all fiction and lies,” Trump wrote. “You would think that CNN, which is suffering terribly in the TV Ratings, would get rid of their 3rd rate ‘anchors,’ and try to bring credibility back to their once storied network. It is fading fast! See you all at the Republican National Convention tomorrow night!!!”

Trump has previously criticized Collins during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this year, where the president compared her to transgender actress and influencer Dylan Mulvaney. 

Trump then targets Maggie Haberman over separate reports

Trump then posted a longer message focused on “unattractive both inside and out” Maggie Haberman and New York Magazine over reports concerning his activities following the September 11, 2001, attacks and his plans for this year’s anniversary.

Trump disputed a report by the outlet that questioned whether he had visited the World Trade Center site after the attacks. He said he went to Lower Manhattan “shortly thereafter” with a group of construction workers and said he had discussed the visit during remarks for Tunnel to Towers.

“The Failing New York Magazine wrote a story that I wasn’t down at the World Trade Center after the Tragedy of September 11th, because nobody saw me there. Well, I don’t think I would be the first thing on anyone’s mind but, I was there, obviously not on the same day as the collapse, but shortly thereafter, with a large group of Construction Workers,” Trump wrote.

Trump also attached video clips that he alleged showed him at the World Trade Center site and cited his former head of security, Matthew Calamari. Trump also criticized Haberman over reporting that he planned to attend the Pentagon rather than the official World Trade Center remembrance ceremony in New York because he would not be permitted to speak there.

"She knows less about me than the average reporter “on the beat.” I haven’t spoken to her in a long time, and certainly there was no “fact checking” for her story — There never is!" the president wrote.

Trump disputed that explanation, saying he had attended the New York ceremony numerous times and that politicians and public officials are not permitted to deliver speeches or remarks at the official anniversary remembrance ceremony at the World Trade Center site.

He also rejected the suggestion that he had sought an opportunity to speak at the New York event and said he was instead asked to attend the Pentagon, while Vice President JD Vance would represent the administration in New York.

Trump called on Haberman to disclose her sources and demanded that she and New York Magazine retract their respective reports.