Trump Attacks CNN’s Kaitlan Collins as ‘Stupid and Nasty’ for Questioning His New Ballroom Plans in Weekend Truth Social Rant

Donald Trump has again turned his ire on a female journalist, this time targeting CNN’s Kaitlan Collins after she questioned the rising price tag of his expansive White House ballroom project.

In a Truth Social post shared on Saturday, Dec. 6, the 79-year-old president lashed out at Collins, 33, who serves as CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent and host of The Source with Kaitlan Collins. He also misspelled her name in the post.

“Caitlin Collin’s of Fake News CNN, always Stupid and Nasty, asked me why the new Ballroom was costing more money than originally thought one year ago,” Trump wrote. “I said because it is going to be double the size, and the quality of finishes and interiors has been brought to the highest level. Also, the column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing.”

Trump then insisted that the multi-million dollar renovation, first announced in July, is performing better than reported, despite public estimates that have climbed significantly. Initially projected at $200 million, the project is now expected to cost about $300 million, according to Trump, who has said the entire amount is being covered by donors, including himself.

“It is actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are,” he wrote in the Dec. 6 post. “It’s just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned.”

“Interestingly, and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved,” he continued. “It is being fully paid for by private donations. FAKE NEWS CNN, and the guy who runs the whole corrupt operation that owns it, is one of the worst in the business. Their ratings are so low that they’re not even counted or relevant anymore. MAGA!!!”

The White House demolished the East Wing in October to clear space for the ballroom project, which has faced criticism from some lawmakers who have raised concerns about oversight and protections for the historic complex.

Collins later responded to Trump’s post on Instagram, resharing it to her Stories and adding, “Technically my question was about Venezuela.”

Trump’s remarks about Collins are part of a broader pattern of him targeting female journalists.

On Thanksgiving, while speaking with reporters at Mar-a-Lago, he snapped at CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes after she pressed him on the vetting of Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is accused in a Washington, D.C., shooting that killed one National Guard member and injured another. Lakanwal was among hundreds of Afghans admitted to the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration’s “Operation Allies Welcome” program following the chaotic withdrawal from Kabul.

“Your DOJ IG just reported this year that there was thorough vetting by DHS and by the FBI of these Afghans who were brought into the U.S., so why do you blame the Biden administration?” Cordes asked.

Trump shot back, “Because they let ’em in. Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?” He added, “Because they came in on a plane along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here, and you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person.”

The day before, Trump had attacked New York Times reporter Katie Rogers on social media, calling her “ugly, both inside and out” after the outlet published a story describing how his age appears to have influenced his schedule during his second term.

Two weeks earlier, he had gone after Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, cutting her off when she asked if there was anything incriminating in the Epstein emails. Pointing at her, he said angrily, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”

At that time, Collins publicly defended Lucey, writing in a post on X that the Bloomberg journalist “does a great job.”