Donald Trump’s criticism of CNN’s Kaitlan Collins continued Tuesday (February 3), after the president labeled her “the worst reporter” and claimed he has never seen her “smile.”
The exchange unfolded in the Oval Office as Collins attempted to ask Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein files. “What would you say to survivors…?” she began, before Trump cut her off.
“You are so bad. You know, you are the worst reporter. No wonder… CNN has no ratings because of people like you,” Trump said. “She’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”
When Collins tried to continue, Trump interrupted again, telling her, “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth, and you’re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you.”
Collins later addressed the moment by replaying the footage on Tuesday’s edition of The Source, arguing that Trump’s response revealed how he views the issue.
“He views things through the lens of how it affects him,” Collins said, per The Daily Beast.
CNN contributor Kara Swisher, who appeared as a guest on the program, backed Collins and said Trump appeared rattled by the question.
“I think you really got under his skin… so he decided to take personal attacks on you which were whatever, it was just ridiculous,” Swisher told Collins.
Swisher added, “I think you’re absolutely right to raise that question of what got released and what needs to be released, and now that we’re halfway there, we should do the whole thing.”
CNN also defended Collins in a statement to The Wrap: “Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity. She skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day, which audiences around the world know they can trust.”
Fellow CNN anchor Jake Tapper also defended Collins on X, writing, “Trump says it’s time for the country to move on from Epstein files, calls it a Democratic problem. @KaitlanCollins notes [Elon] Musk & [Howard] Lutnick are in the files, asks about criticisms by survivors. Trump insults her & criticizes her for not smiling enough. (Needless to say Kaitlan is a great reporter & person).”
This is not the first time Trump has taken aim at Collins. Last February, when the The Source anchor asked him about his relationship with Vladimir Putin, he responded, “I know [Biden is] a friend of yours. He’s a friend of CNN. That’s why nobody watches CNN anymore. Because they have no credibility.”
In December, Trump again targeted Collins on Truth Social, calling her “stupid and nasty” after she questioned him about the cost of the new White House ballroom.
