Trump Berates CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Over Epstein Questions

On February 3, 2026, a tense scene unfolded in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump clashed with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins over questions regarding the newly released and heavily redacted Epstein Files. The exchange, which quickly became the talk of both political and media circles, was marked by sharp words from the president and a display of journalistic resolve from Collins—a moment emblematic of the ongoing friction between Trump and members of the press, particularly female reporters.

The confrontation began when Collins, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent and anchor of The Source, pressed Trump about the millions of pages of Epstein-related documents, focusing on the reactions from survivors of the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Collins highlighted that many survivors were dissatisfied with the Justice Department’s handling of the files, especially the extensive redactions that left entire witness interviews blacked out. “A lot of women who were are survivors of Epstein’s are unhappy with those redactions that came out—some of them entire witness interviews—are totally blacked out. Do you think that they should be more transparent?” she asked, as reported by Deadline and The New York Post.

Trump, visibly bristling, interrupted Collins before she could finish. “You are the worst reporter,” he declared, his voice rising in the crowded Oval Office. “No wonder CNN has no ratings, because of people like you.” He didn’t stop there. Turning the focus to Collins herself, Trump remarked, “You know, she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face. You know why? You know why you’re not smiling, because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you.”

As Collins tried to respond—her question centered on the survivors of sexual abuse—Trump cut her off, pivoting the conversation to the broader implications of the document release. He argued that the nation should move past the controversy, claiming, “I think it’s really time for the country to get into something else now that nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people.” Trump went on to suggest, “But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something like health care, something that people care about.”

Collins attempted to clarify her line of questioning, noting that it was hardly a laughing matter. “Well, I’m asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, Mr. President,” she said, a point that only seemed to fuel Trump’s ire. The president then accused her of dishonesty, insisting that her lack of a smile was proof of her deceit. The exchange ended as White House press aides ushered reporters out of the room, with Trump still grumbling about Collins.

Within just 45 minutes, CNN released a statement in support of their correspondent, describing her as “an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity.” The network’s statement continued, “She skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day, which audiences around the world know they can trust.”

That evening, Collins appeared on The Lead with Jake Tapper to address the incident. She reiterated the importance of focusing on the survivors, saying, “Jake, this is something where the survivors here have been at the center of this, and they have been the people who have said they’re unhappy with what has come out of the Justice Department here so far. I just spoke to one on Friday night who was saying that entire witness interviews with the FBI were redacted. The entire page was blacked out. And so these are real questions.” She added, “As the President is saying, it’s time to move on, there’s many people, including a lot of his own supporters, who do not feel that way.”

This Oval Office confrontation was hardly an isolated incident. Over the past several months, Trump has repeatedly targeted Collins and other female journalists with personal insults and dismissive comments. In December 2025, he called Collins “stupid and nasty” after she questioned him about the cost of a new White House ballroom. The president’s attacks have extended to Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News (“quiet piggy”), Rachel Scott of ABC News (“the most obnoxious reporter”), Nancy Cordes of CBS News (“stupid person”), Katie Rogers of The New York Times (“third rate” and “ugly”), and Mary Bruce of ABC News (“horrible” and “insubordinate”).

The White House has not shied away from defending the president’s language. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Trump’s remarks as “very frank and honest” commentary, dismissing accusations of cruelty. However, these repeated attacks have drawn criticism from media figures and advocacy groups. Nicole Wallace of MS Now addressed the issue bluntly, stating, “This is sick. We’re either gonna normalize this, and then you’re gonna hear all sorts of prominent people calling women all sorts of names—or that press corps is gonna act as one and say, ‘No more.’”

Prominent voices outside the White House have also weighed in. Piers Morgan, for instance, challenged the president’s claim about Collins’ demeanor, remarking that Collins “smiles a LOT,” and suggesting that a journalist’s facial expressions are irrelevant to their work. Meanwhile, former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson publicly condemned Trump’s behavior, joining a chorus of media professionals calling for a more respectful tone in presidential interactions with the press.

Amid the furor, some observers have noted the broader implications of Trump’s remarks. The president’s focus on Collins’ appearance and demeanor, rather than the substance of her questions, has been interpreted by many as an attempt to deflect from the uncomfortable issue of the Epstein Files—a trove of documents that continues to raise questions about the powerful figures who once associated with Epstein. Notably, Trump admitted during the exchange that he had not read through the files, but assumed that mentions of high-profile associates such as Elon Musk and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were “fine” because “otherwise there would have been major headlines.”

Collins, for her part, has continued to foreground the survivors’ perspectives. In her conversation with Tapper, she emphasized that “these are real questions” that deserve answers, regardless of the president’s desire to “move on.” Her steadfastness in the face of public criticism has earned her support from colleagues and viewers alike, reinforcing the vital role of a free press in holding the powerful to account.

As the debate over the Epstein Files and transparency continues, the Oval Office exchange has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about press freedom, presidential accountability, and the treatment of women in journalism. For Kaitlan Collins and many of her peers, the message is clear: tough questions are not a matter of smiles, but of substance.