President Donald Trump abruptly shut down CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a press briefing on Tuesday when she tried to raise questions about the controversial “Signal” messaging incident involving top administration officials.
During a meeting with ambassadors at the White House, the frequent Trump nemesis attempted to pepper the president with a question.
“Mr. President, you said that your national security learned a lesson after a reporter …,” Collins began.
Before she could complete her sentence, Trump interrupted, saying sharply: “Excuse me, I didn’t pick you.”
He then pointed to another reporter in the gallery and said, “Go ahead.”
President Donald Trump abruptly dismissed CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a press briefing on Tuesday. SHAWN THEW/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Signal controversy emerged after The Atlantic revealed that Jeffrey Goldberg, its editor-in-chief, was mistakenly added to a secret group chat where high-ranking Trump administration members discussed an upcoming military strike against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Goldberg’s unexpected inclusion raised serious concerns about the administration’s handling of classified conversations.
Initially, Trump distanced himself from the controversy, claiming he was unaware of the incident at the time it occurred.
However, on Tuesday morning, he defended National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who had inadvertently included Goldberg in the sensitive discussion — labeling the error merely a “glitch.”
During a meeting with ambassadors at the White House, Collins was among several reporters who sought to get quotes from the president.
Trump reaffirmed his continued confidence in Waltz, despite mounting criticism.
The confrontation between Collins and Trump was the latest in a string of incidents between the two.
In a separate Oval Office encounter, Collins pressed Trump about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, specifically questioning Trump’s trust in the Russian leader.
“I believe he wants peace,” Trump had initially said about Putin.
The Trump White House has had a contentious relationship with CNN and its chief White House correspondent, Collins. AFP via Getty Images
Trump and Collins have had run-ins before. REUTERS
“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.”
Collins interrupted, asking, “Do you trust President Putin?”
Trump responded by attacking Collins and CNN’s credibility.
“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,” Trump shot back, provoking laughter from several other reporters present.
Collins also challenged Trump regarding his controversial comments linking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies to a collision between a passenger jet and a military plane in Washington, DC earlier this year.
“Does it comfort [the victims’] family to hear you blaming DEI policies?” she asked.
Collins asked Trump a question as he left the East Room of the White House on Feb. 3. AP
“I think that’s not a very smart question,” Trump replied. “I’m surprised, coming from you.”
Last month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confronted Collins over demands for evidence supporting Trump’s claims that pardons issued by former President Joe Biden were invalid because they were allegedly signed by an autopen.
“You’re a reporter, you should find out,” Leavitt told Collins after being pressed for evidence.
Trump had accused Biden’s staff of possibly committing a crime by issuing pardons without Biden’s direct consent.
“The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime,” Trump claimed.