President Trump took to his Truth Social account on Wednesday to launch a personal attack on CNN’s chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, describing her as a “sleazebag.” In a series of posts, the president questioned how Collins, a University of Alabama graduate, was able to cover his United Nations General Assembly speech when CNN’s credentials had been revoked by the White House.
Trump’s Rationale
Trump wrote, “All of the SLEAZEBAGS, like Third Rate ‘Reporter,’ Kaitlan Collins, of Fake News CNN, a truly unhappy person, said they weren’t going to cover me.” He then asked, “Then why were they ranting and raving like lunatics, in the press area, at the United Nations? Why was she there?” The president framed his criticism as a response to what he perceives as a coordinated media campaign against him.
Network Response
CNN responded that the network has never indicated it would refuse to cover the president. The network’s spokesperson reiterated that CNN’s journalists are free to report on the president’s public appearances, including those at the United Nations, regardless of any White House credential decisions.
Pattern of Personal Attacks
This is not the first time President Trump has singled out Collins. Since taking office, he has repeatedly labeled her coverage as “fake news” and described her as “always stupid and nasty.” The president, now 80, has used similar language toward other journalists and news outlets he deems hostile.
Collins’s Reaction
Collins, who has maintained a professional demeanor throughout the exchanges, told The Daily Show that she does not take Trump’s insults personally. She explained that reacting emotionally would shift focus away from the reporting and onto the president’s attacks. “It’s really not about me,” she said to host Jon Stewart, emphasizing her commitment to covering the news rather than engaging in a personal feud.
Context of Media Relations
President Trump’s relationship with the press has been a defining feature of his administration. Earlier this week, he questioned how Collins could cover his New York appearance after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the press pool. Collins clarified that her credentials for the United Nations event were issued by the UN, not the White House.
Trump also accused CNN, MS NOW (which he referred to as “MSDNC”), and other outlets of having a “Trump addiction,” calling them “sick, treasonous and demented.” These statements reflect the president’s ongoing strategy of confronting what he calls “fake news” organizations head‑on.
Public Reaction
Reactions to the president’s remarks have been split along partisan lines. Supporters argue that Trump is calling out bias in the mainstream media, while critics contend that personal attacks undermine the dignity of the press and the public’s right to unbiased information.
Regardless of perspective, the exchange underscores the heightened tension between the Trump administration and major news outlets, a dynamic that continues to shape the national conversation about media freedom and accountability.
Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.
