Trump Clashes with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in Explosive White House Showdown
In a high-tension White House press briefing Thursday, former President Donald Trump launched a fiery attack on CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, accusing her of blatant bias and calling into question the credibility of the entire network. The heated exchange quickly dominated headlines, highlighting the ongoing war of words between Trump and mainstream media outlets.
The confrontation erupted during questions about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. When Collins asked, “Do you trust President Putin?” the tone shifted instantly. Trump initially responded calmly, saying, “I think he wants to see something happen. I believe that could have happened a long time ago.” But the atmosphere quickly turned combative as Trump zeroed in on Collins personally.
With a pointed jab, Trump accused Collins of being politically motivated, suggesting a close relationship with President Biden: “I know Biden is a friend of yours.” He didn’t stop there — taking aim at CNN as a whole, Trump declared, “That’s why nobody watches CNN anymore—because they have no credibility.”
His remarks resonated strongly with his supporters, many of whom have long argued that CNN and similar outlets serve partisan interests rather than fair journalism.
Earlier Tensions Set the Stage
The clash wasn’t isolated. Earlier in the briefing, Collins tried to steer the conversation toward inflation and tariffs: “Mr. President, you won the White House in part because of high inflation. If your tariffs make prices go up—” Trump cut her off sharply: “Excuse me. We haven’t asked you to speak yet.” That brusque dismissal foreshadowed the explosive back-and-forth to come.
A Long-Running Feud
This fiery moment is just the latest episode in a longstanding feud between Trump and CNN’s press corps. Throughout his presidency and beyond, Trump has repeatedly blasted CNN as “fake news” and accused it of unfair treatment. Collins, a former CNN White House correspondent, has often faced Trump’s sharp rebukes for her pointed questioning.
As Trump eyes the next chapter of his political career, his combative stance toward the media appears stronger than ever — and Thursday’s showdown signals that the battle lines remain firmly drawn.
Mixed Reactions Flood In
In the aftermath, reactions split sharply along partisan lines. Trump supporters and conservative commentators hailed his boldness in standing up to “biased” journalism, flooding social media with praise for his remarks. On the other hand, critics accused Trump of undermining press freedom and trying to intimidate reporters.
Whatever the perspective, one thing is clear: Trump’s media battles are far from over, and future clashes seem all but inevitable.