President Donald Trump once again pivoted away from serious questions about the Epstein files by lashing out at CNN’s chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, dragging the CNN reporter into a spat over whether she smiles enough, while demanding she stop talking about Epstein. The exchange highlights Trump’s ongoing antagonism toward the press and his determination to deflect from uncomfortable topics.
During an Oval Office briefing on Tuesday, Collins pressed Trump on the newly released Epstein files — a politically combustible subject as the documents continue to reveal high‑profile connections and fuel public scrutiny. When Collins asked why Trump hadn’t thoroughly reviewed the files, he dismissed the focus, saying he wanted the country to “move on to something else.”
But rather than answer the substance, Trump pivoted to personal attacks. According to reports, he told Collins, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” and labeled her and CNN as dishonest and lacking credibility.
“You know she’s a young woman,” Trump went on, implying Collins’s serious tone was evidence she wasn’t being truthful or likable — a tactic he has used repeatedly with female journalists.
The confrontation isn’t an isolated incident. Collins has been the target of Trump’s ire before: last year, the presidentcalled her “stupid and nasty” on his social platform Truth Social after she pressed him on an unrelated question, a post that included misspelling her name and much‑mocked rhetoric about CNN’s ratings and credibility.
Earlier episodes also show Trump brushing off Collins aggressively during press interactions, including cutting her off mid‑question — behavior that critics say is part of a broader pattern of hostile treatment toward journalists asking tough questions about his record and actions.
Collins has not backed down. In multiple segments on CNN, she has continued to press Trump and his allies about the substance of the Epstein files — including reporting that the president’s name appears multiple times in private emails connected to the Epstein network, a detail she helped bring to light through investigative coverage.
Watch the clip below:
