Trump’s attack on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins revives scrutiny of his clashes with female reporters

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump reignited criticism over his treatment of female journalists after launching a personal attack on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during an Oval Office exchange.

The remarks quickly drew pushback from fellow journalists and CNN. They also redirected attention from questions about a controversial administration proposal that had prompted the exchange in the first place.

Trump’s Kaitlan Collins remarks overshadow policy questions

Trump was responding to a question about his administration’s now-abandoned $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund proposal when he abruptly turned his attention to Collins.

“A young, beautiful woman, never smiles,” Trump said. “I never see a smile on her face. I see her standing there with hatred in her eyes.”

He went on to suggest her supposed hostility stemmed from his policies, including border security, military spending, and tax cuts.

The exchange came as reporters pressed the administration about the fund, which critics had labeled a “slush fund” and questioned whether it could benefit the January 6 defendants.

When Collins later raised concerns about Republican criticism of the proposal, Trump broadened his attack beyond the reporter herself.

“The fake news, like CNN, like the New York Times, and like others, have abused our people, have abused our people so badly,” Trump said. “And you should be ashamed of yourself.”

He added that Collins had once been “a conservative from Alabama” before criticizing CNN’s coverage and questioning whether the network would change under prospective new ownership.

Kaitlan Collins says she hadn’t asked a question

Hours later, Collins addressed the incident during the opening segment of CNN’s 'The Source'.

“As you’re about to hear in his answer here, the president seemed clearly irritated when he was asked earlier today why his administration says it is not moving forward with that $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund,” she told viewers.

She then highlighted a detail that quickly became part of the fallout.

“And just to note, as you’re about to listen to this, this first exchange actually occurred before I had yet to ask the president a question,” Collins said.

CNN publicly backed its chief White House correspondent after the confrontation.

“Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. The network added that audiences around the world trust her reporting and on-air work.

Journalists rally as familiar criticism returns

The confrontation renewed attention on Trump’s long-running pattern of targeting female reporters during tense exchanges with the press.

Amanda Carpenter, an editor and political commentator, defended Collins on X after the Oval Office remarks.

“I’m sure Kaitlan Collins is not rattled in the least by these casual, s**ist, repeated attacks by Trump,” Carpenter wrote. “Her steadiness should be a reminder that NO woman owes any man her smile.”

The latest clash also echoed a previous exchange in February, when Trump criticized Collins after she questioned him about the Epstein files. Collins later responded on a podcast, saying, “It’s not a laughing matter, I don’t think, to talk about s*x trafficking victims.”