CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins kept pressing President Donald Trump about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s possible impeachment even after the president called her a “loser.”
In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, the White House gave reporters just two minutes’ notice to assemble in the briefing room, where Trump quickly appeared with UFC CEO Dana White. The president had reportedly offered White the vacant press secretary job two days earlier.
Trump soon lashed out at reporters in a defense of Hegseth just hours after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced impeachment articles against the defense secretary on the House floor. Hegseth said he was “not worried” about the effort.
“Will you stand by Pete Hegseth if he’s impeached?” Collins asked, and Trump replied, “Yeah, I’ll stand by him.”
“So even if he’s impeached, you’re gonna keep him as your Defense Secretary?” Collins pressed.
“He won two wars!” Trump said. “He was in charge! We all won. I had great people.”
“Massie says that he’s carried out a…” Collins said before Trump cut in.
“Massie’s a loser, just like you’re a loser at CNN, just like your ratings are a loser,” Trump said. “Massie is a loser, stone cold loser.”
Monday’s insult was at least the fourth personal attack Trump has aimed at Collins this year. He called her “the worst reporter” in February and “corrupt” in June, according to TheWrap. In July, he called her White House Correspondents’ Dinner award “fake.”
Massie lost his seat in a primary this year after a long feud with the Trump administration.
“I did something that nobody’s done,” Trump said. “… Massie has a lot of hatred in his heart.”
“We won two wars,” Trump continued. “We won two wars, and we’ve made the world a lot safer place. And then we’re supposed to be — why haven’t we gone after all these other people that ran wars that lost?”
“What about Republicans… What’s your message to them?” Collins asked as Trump talked over her.
“What about good old Lloyd?” Trump said. “Why didn’t we go after him? … They’re in charge of the military, and they disappeared; nobody knew, had any idea, and nothing happened to him.”
Trump appeared to be referring to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In January 2024, Trump said Austin should be fired over the lack of transparency around a hospital stay.
Trump wanted Austin gone over a hospital stay, but he told Collins he would stand by Hegseth even through an impeachment.
Trump next went after MS NOW correspondent Vaughn Hillyard’s network when Hillyard argued the president was appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“You have given Vladimir Putin multiple deadlines over the last 22 months to enter into a ceasefire, but also to meet directly with Volodymyr Zelensky,” Hillyard said. “He has repeatedly ignored your demands, yet you have provided —”
“Has he been fighting us in the war?” Trump shot back.
“My point is appeasement,” Hillyard pressed.
“Who are you with?” Trump asked.
“With MS NOW. At what point…” Hillyard replied.
“MS NOW is a fake network!” Trump fired back.
“It’s appeasement,” Hillyard repeated.
“MS NOW gets the worst ratings in their history!” Trump went on. “Used to be MSDNC! It’s one of the worst… you’re a fake network.”
Trump banned MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House in September, but a federal judge he appointed ordered their return. Collins and Hillyard were in the briefing room Monday under that order.
Trump kept attacking Hillyard even after calling on another reporter.
“Today it was Stephen Miller,” CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs began.
“MS NOW! What a jerk you are!” Trump said, still addressing Hillyard.
Jacobs had been trying to ask about Stephen Miller’s first full day on the job. Trump named Miller White House chief of staff on Friday, replacing Susie Wiles.
“Stephen Miller’s doing a great job!” Trump exclaimed, ignoring Jacobs’ question.
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