President Donald Trump clashed sharply with CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office on Tuesday, denouncing her as the worst reporter during a tense exchange over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The confrontation unfolded as Collins pressed Trump on recently released documents tied to Epstein, attempting to link the President to broader questions of transparency and accountability. According to Gateway Pundit, Collins opened by highlighting that Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared in the files, despite the fact that neither man has been accused of any wrongdoing.
The outlet has documented in detail the latest tranche of roughly 3 million files released by the Department of Justice, which include extensive correspondence between Epstein and prominent Democrats, as well as discussions that appear to target Trump politically. Among the more explosive revelations, Gateway Pundit reported that Bill Gates allegedly contracted an STD after encounters with Russian women, and that left-wing author Michael Wolff encouraged Epstein to blackmail then-candidate Trump during the 2016 campaign.
Collins began her line of questioning by tying Musk and Lutnick to the newly publicized records, asking Trump, Did you read those new files that were published by the Department of Justice? Trump replied that he had not, explaining, No, I didnt. I have a lot of things, a lot of things Im doing, and I dont know. You mentioned two names. Im sure theyre fine. Im sure theyre fine. Otherwise there would have been major headlines.
Before he could finish, Collins interrupted to invoke Epsteins victims and to accuse the government of withholding too much information. A lot of women, who were, are survivors of Epsteins 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, framing the issue as a matter of justice for alleged survivors.
Trump responded by noting that criticism had come from multiple directions, including those who believed the disclosures went too far. Well, theyre also unhappy with the fact that they thought they released too much. You know, I heard that, and you tell me something else. No, I think its really time for the country to get onto something else, really, he said, arguing that the nation should now pivot to substantive policy debates.
He underscored that the documents had not implicated him in any wrongdoing and instead showed efforts to target him. You know, now that nothing came out about me, other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people, but I think its time now for the country to maybe get on to something else, like healthcare or Trump continued, before Collins again cut in.
Collins pressed further, asking, What would you say to people that feel like they havent gotten justice, Mr. President? As she spoke over him, Trump paused, then turned his fire directly on CNN and its correspondent. Something that people care about. Yeah, what did you say? Go ahead, CNN. You are so bad. You are the worst reporter. No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you, he shot back, highlighting the networks chronic ratings problems.
Trump then personalized his criticism, suggesting Collins demeanor reflected her lack of honesty. You know, shes a young woman. I dont think Ive ever seen you smile. Ive known you for 10 years. I dont think Ive ever seen a smile on your face, he said, portraying her as perpetually hostile and emblematic of a media culture fixated on attacking him.
Collins attempted to reframe the exchange by insisting her questions were on behalf of Epsteins victims. Well, Im asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, she replied, seeking to cast Trumps pushback as indifference to their suffering.
Trump, however, doubled down on his broader indictment of CNNs credibility and motives. You know, why youre not smiling? Because you know youre not telling the truth, and youre a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you, he said, reiterating a long-standing conservative critique that corporate media outlets weaponize victims stories to advance partisan narratives rather than to seek genuine justice.
For many on the right, the exchange underscored two parallel realities: a media establishment that has long downplayed or obscured the role of powerful Democrats in the Epstein saga, and a justice system that has yet to fully account for who enabled Epsteins crimes. While Trump called for the country to get on to something else, like healthcare, the unresolved questions surrounding Epstein, the selective outrage of legacy media, and the apparent double standard in coverage of political figures ensure this story will remain a flashpoint in the ongoing battle between the President and the press.
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