Trump snaps at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins over deportation question during presser: ‘You have no credibility’

WASHINGTON, DC: There seems to be no ceasefire on the horizon between President Donald Trump and his arch enemy in the mainstream media, CNN. On Monday, April 14, Trump lashed out at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins over her questions during the commander-in-chief’s press conference with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. 

During Monday’s news event, the 78-year-old president resorted to ridiculing Collins after the journalist asked him about the government’s refusal to comply with the Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of deported Salvadoran national, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. 

After refusing to take questions from CNN in the beginning, accusing the outlet of being “just so wrong", Trump took questions from Collins later while also addressing her a “low-rated anchor at CNN".

Donald Trump derides CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during White House press conference

Donald Trump went on a verbal tirade against CNN when he declared early on in the press conference with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, “Let's not start with CNN because they are just so wrong.”

After taking questions from several other journalists, Trump focused his attention on Collins, saying, “Let's hear the question from this very low-rated anchor at CNN.”

Given the opportunity, the journalist pressed the MAGA spearhead about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a national of El Salvador who lived in Maryland. As reported by the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old was in the US illegally from El Salvador when he was deported by the Trump administration in March. 

The man’s deportation took place even though he was granted legal protection from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019. The Trump administration is sticking to its version that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gangster deserving no place in America.  

Even though the Supreme Court has directed the government to facilitate his return, both Trump and Bukele showed no interest in returning him. 

After initially directing Collins’ question to his Attorney General Pam Bondi and his deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, he bashed the CNN anchor saying, “How long do we have to answer this question from you?”

“Why don't you just say, isn't it wonderful that we're keeping criminals out of our country? Why can't you just say that?” he railed.

As Collins persisted and asked for a follow-up, Trump went on a verbal onslaught of her network, complaining, “Why do you go over and over, that's why no one watches you anymore, you have no credibility.”

CNN's Dana Bash claps back at Donald Trump's accusations

Donald Trump’s taunting of the network continued as he later added that CNN probably doesn’t report “good numbers” because they “hate our country actually.”

After Bukele praised Trump’s vigorous stance at border enforcement on the southern border of the country since starting off as the 47th POTUS, the Salvadoran president questioned why the news media don’t report more often about the good numbers on the border. 

Taking the cue, Trump responded that since his inauguration, there was a “99.1 percent” border enforcement at the southern border, but complained that the mainstream media don’t seem interested in reporting that. 

“Well they get out, but the fake news you know like CNN over here doesn't want to put them out because they don't like putting out good numbers, because I think they hate our country actually,” said Trump while continuing the attack on the network. “It’s a shame, really,” added the president.

CNN’s Dana Bash, however, hit back and clarified the outlet’s stance on Trump’s accusations on her Monday afternoon show 'Inside Politics'.

“CNN does not hate our country, that should go without saying,” said Bash, while dismissing Trump’s remark as a simple “rhetorical device".

“That should go without saying. I’ve been here for 32 years,” emphasized Bash, before adding, “And I see a rhetorical device in him trying to say such a thing. That said, I want to focus on the news that we heard,” per The Hill.