U.S. President Donald Trump slammed CNN’s White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a recent media briefing in the Oval Office.
The interaction between the duo has since gone viral on social media, with many MAGA loyalists enjoying how Trump called out the journalist and her network.
Tension between Trump and Collins began when she asked him about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has recently talked to Putin on the phone, as the president is intent on trying to bring an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Putin wants the war to come to an end — and that he wants peace, just as Trump does.
Trump answered a question about whether Putin truly wants peace, saying, “I believe he wants peace.
I believe that President Putin — when I spoke to him yesterday, I mean, I know him very well — yeah, I think he wants peace.
I think he would tell me if he didn’t, I think he’d like to see peace.”
While Trump was answering this question, Collins reportedly interjected, “Do you trust President Putin?”
Trump didn’t answer this question.
Instead, he shot back, “I know [Biden is] a friend of yours.”
After saying this, the president then took the time to slam CNN.
Trump has long gone after CNN.
During his first term in the Oval Office, Trump repeatedly criticized the cable news network — and even went so far as to call them “fake news.”
In his brief spar with Collins, Trump reignited his ire for the network she works for.
“He’s a friend of CNN.
That’s why nobody watches CNN anymore.
Because they have no credibility,” Trump said, linking former President Joe Biden to CNN.
Rather interestingly, Trump’s attack on Collins didn’t go unnoticed — even by her fellow colleagues and veteran journalists in the room.
After he insulted her, many chuckles were heard.
After Collins asked this question, Trump also took the time to go after the former president for the war between Russia and Ukraine in the first place.
“This should have been done by Biden years ago. This should have never been allowed to happen,” Trump claimed.
Trump and Kaitlan Collins’ History
During Trump’s first term, Collins also seemed to get under Trump’s skin, thanks to her pointed questions.
As Trump has long had it out for CNN, he’s also had some little battles with Collins, as a result.
Now that the president is back in the White House for his second term, it appears his sparring with Collins has picked up right where they left off.
In fact, this isn’t the first time that Trump has slammed Collins this year — and the president has only been in office for about a month.
Last month, the two got into it after the DC plane crash.
Trump was answering questions from reporters about this tragedy when Collins had a chance to inquire about previous statements he had made.
Rather quickly after the helicopter had reportedly crashed into a commercial jet mid-air, Trump had insinuated that DEI hiring practices were to blame.
Collins asked him about these controversial statements.
“Does it comfort [the victims’] family to hear you blaming DEI policies?” Collins asked the president.
Trump apparently didn’t like this question — at all.
“I think that’s not a very smart question,” he responded.
He then added, “I’m surprised, coming from you.”
Trump and Collins Spar Over Tariffs
Another showdown between President Trump and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins occurred in the Oval Office when Trump was signing orders to have reciprocal tariffs.
This also occurred on the same day Trump slammed Collins and CNN.
These tariffs, according to Trump, will ensure the U.S. tariffs match the rates seen in other countries.
Right after signing these documents, Collins asked if these tariffs would make the costs of goods rise for regular Americans.
Many economists have stated that the tariffs Trump wants to put in place — particularly these reciprocal tariffs — will cause prices to go up for American households.
Even regular items in grocery stores could rise in price, thanks to these tariffs.
In previous interviews, Trump himself has even stated this will happen.
However, the president has also claimed that Americans will have to only go through this hardship for a short time.
In the Oval Office, Collins shot out, “Mr. President, you won the White House in part because of high inflation, if your tariffs make prices go up…”
Trump then quickly cut her off, saying, “Excuse me.
We haven’t asked you to speak yet, please.”
Trump did, in fact, run on the economy.
Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked former President Biden’s administration, blaming them for why grocery prices were so high.
Many analysts have since come out to state that Trump only beat former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race because of the economy.
