President Donald Trump took aim at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a tense back-and-forth in the Oval Office, criticizing the journalist for “not smiling enough.”
During remarks in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Feb. 3, Trump, 79, showed off a new red-and-white baseball cap reading “America is back,” with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson standing beside him.
“Look, CNN is thrilled,” Trump said, before adding, “She never smiles. Someday I’ll see her smile.”
The comment appeared directed at Collins, CNN’s chief White House correspondent.
Shortly afterward, Collins could be heard trying to ask a question while Trump was speaking with another reporter. “What did you say? Go ahead, CNN,” Trump responded.
“What would you say to the survivors…” Collins, 33, can be heard asking, referring to survivors connected to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump then escalated his criticism, saying Collins was “the worst reporter” and blaming her for CNN’s ratings. He also focused again on her demeanor.
“You know she’s a young woman,” Trump said, referring to Collins. “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.”
“Well I’m asking you about survivors,” Collins replied.
Trump interrupted again, accusing her and CNN of dishonesty. “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth,” he said, adding that CNN was “a very dishonest organization” and “should be ashamed.”
A CNN spokesperson defended Collins in a statement, calling her “an exceptional journalist” and praising her reporting from the White House and in the field.
This is not the first time Trump has publicly criticized Collins. In December 2025, he described her as “always stupid, and nasty” in a Truth Social post after she asked about the controversial White House ballroom remodeling project.
Collins is also not the only female reporter Trump has insulted in recent months. In November 2025, Trump called CBS News’ Nancy Cordes “a stupid person.” He also insulted The New York Times’ Katie Rogers and Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucey during separate exchanges.
