President Trump laced into the CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office on Tuesday, calling her “the worst reporter” and scolding her for not smiling as she tried to ask about the latest release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
“She’s a young woman — I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” Mr. Trump said in a sarcastic tone, while sitting at the Resolute Desk. “I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”
Ms. Collins noted that she was asking the president about Mr. Epstein’s sexual assault victims, but Mr. Trump interrupted her. “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth,” he said.
Mr. Trump has often singled out female journalists for attacks and insults; last year, he cut off a Bloomberg News reporter by barking, “Quiet! Quiet, piggy.”
Ms. Collins, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, is a familiar figure to Mr. Trump, having covered him extensively since 2016. In December, Mr. Trump attacked her in a Truth Social post, writing, “Caitlin Collin’s of Fake News CNN, always Stupid and Nasty.”
Mr. Trump had earlier in the news conference calmly answered two of Ms. Collins’s questions about the release of documents related to the government’s investigation of Mr. Epstein, the financier and former friend of the president who was charged with sex trafficking. When Ms. Collins asked a third question about Mr. Epstein’s victims, however, Mr. Trump went on the attack.
“You are so bad,” he said. “You know, you are the worst reporter. No wonder. CNN has no ratings because of people like you.”
Shortly after Tuesday’s Oval Office exchange, CNN issued a statement calling Ms. Collins “an exceptional journalist” who reports “with real depth and tenacity.” It was the same statement that CNN has issued on previous occasions; Mr. Trump has singled out Ms. Collins so often that the network keeps its defense of its reporter ready to go.
As journalists were being ushered out of the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president could be heard telling Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, that “she never smiles!” as he pointed toward the press.
Chris Cameron contributed reporting.
Michael M. Grynbaum writes about the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has been a media correspondent at The Times since 2016.
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