Trump publicly criticized CNN’s chief correspondent on Casa Branca, Kaitlan Collins, in a post on Ala Leste from Casa Branca.
The statement came after Collins questioned the president during an event at Kennedy Center, in Washington, on Friday, December 5, about a possible Prêmio Nobel of FIFA’s Paz amid military actions against Venezuela. Trump justified the extra cost of the project, claiming that the space would be doubled in size and with high quality finishes.
Collins responded on Instagram with a screenshot of Trump’s post and the caption: “Technically, my question was about Venezuela.” The incident highlights a series of recent clashes between the president and journalists, especially women, covering sensitive topics.
Collins’s colleagues, such as anchor Jake Tapper, defended the reporter at X, describing her as “intelligent” and “friendly”, and stating that questions about public spending are legitimate. Casa Branca, through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, attributed the criticism to low trust in the media, without direct mention of gender.
Confrontation at Kennedy Center reveals tensions
The meeting between Trump and Collins took place during the FIFA Copa Mundo draw, at Kennedy Center, at 7pm local time. The reporter asked whether the entity’s award would conflict with promises of intervention in the Venezuela, citing attacks on drug boats.
Trump responded calmly at the time, saying he prioritized “saving lives” and had resolved eight wars in his previous term. Ele avoided confirming receipt of the award, but emphasized actions against trafficking.
A subsequent post on Truth Social amplified the tone, with Trump accusing CNN of being “fake news” and having low ratings. The text included references to “MAGA” and criticism of the broadcaster’s command.
This interaction reflects a pattern of the president’s quick responses to questions, especially at public events with broad coverage.
Response from Collins and internal support at CNN
Collins remained focused on his show The Source, broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, where he commented on the incident without raising the personal tone. Ela highlighted the importance of clarifying facts about foreign policies.
Tapper posted to X at 4pm ET on Saturday, listing points such as the correction of the name and the validity of the question. Sua message received thousands of interactions in a few hours.
Other CNN journalists echoed the support in internal communications, according to reports from colleagues. The broadcaster did not issue an official statement, but sources indicate that the episode reinforces debates about access to the press.
- Intelligent: Collins is recognized for accurate analysis in live coverage.
- Friendly: Colegas highlight their collaborative approach in press pools.
- Legitimate: Questões on public budgets add an extra US$50 million to the project.
Pattern of criticism of female reporters intensifies
Since November 2025, Trump has directed personal comments to at least six female journalists at official events. The first instance occurred on November 14, aboard Air Force One, when he told Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg to be “quiet and embarrassed” when asking about Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
Two days later, on Palm Beach, Flórida, at 11am local, he reprimanded another reporter from The incident sparked debate about disruptions to briefings.
On November 18, during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Casa Branca at 10 a.m. ET, Trump called Mary Bruce, of ABC
A week later, on the eve of Dia of Ação of Graças, November 26, he criticized Katie Rogers of
On Dia of Ação of Graças, November 27 at 2pm ET on
Most recently, on December 2, aboard Air Force One at 9 a.m. ET, he stated that Weijia Jiang, also from CBS, would be “incapable” of a cognitive test, following a question about his recent MRI.
Defenses and positioning of Casa Branca
Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson commented on Collins’s case to The Independent, at 3pm ET on Sunday, December 7, stating that Trump “has never been politically correct.” Ela linked criticism to the transparency that led to re-election.
Jackson denied gender bias, attributing the incidents to “historically low trust in the media,” with polls showing 32% approval of the press in November 2025, according to Pew Research.
Mary Trump, the president’s niece, mentioned in her weekly podcast, recorded December 7 at 10 a.m. ET on Ela cited the 40% increase in verbal confrontations since January.
Associação of Correspondentes of Casa Branca monitors the episodes, but did not issue a specific note. Fontes internal reports discuss discussions about protocols for briefings.
Internally, advisors from Trump see the responses as a strategy to mobilize the base, with posts on Truth Social reaching 5 million views in 24 hours.
Recent incidents highlight dynamics with the press
The attack on Collins follows that of December 8th, when Trump called ABC’s Rachel Scott “the most obnoxious reporter” at an agricultural roundtable at 11am ET on Iowa. Ela pressed for video of a second attack on a drug boat.
Scott countered by posting clip of Trump’s previous promise about releasing footage. The episode added to the total of eight clashes in December.
On November 29, an article from Guardian analyzed the pattern, citing Trump’s history with Megyn Kelly in 2015.
Reuters Institute polls indicate that 65% of Americans see the incidents as eroding press freedom, with a focus on events such as the FIFA draw.
The dynamic persists on Air Force One flights, with 12 interruptions recorded in November, according to logs from the journalistic pool.
Peer reactions and historical context
Journalists like Lucey and Bruce shared experiences in a private group on WhatsApp, at 6pm ET on Saturday, exchanging tips for briefings. Elas reported a 30% increase in personal safety alerts.
Tapper expanded his defense in a Sunday newsletter at 8 a.m. ET, listing the benefits of incisive questions for accountability. Ele cited a 15% reduction in budget transparency since January.
Historically, Trump used terms like “nasty” in 2016 against Kelly, leading to boycotts. In 2025, the Comite to Proteção of Jornalistas records 18 similar incidents.
Casa Branca launched an online “Hall of Shame” on November 28, listing contested reports, including those by Collins and Rogers, accessed 2 million times in one week.
These reactions continue the debate about balancing presidential access and professional respect, with ratings for shows like The Source rising 12% post-incident.
