Collins pressed on, asking about Epstein’s survivors: “What would you say to the survivors…”

Trump, visibly irritated, cut her off.

“You are the worst reporter. No wonder CNN… CNN has no ratings because of people like you. 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,” he said.

Collins calmly responded: “Well, I’m asking you about survivors.”

Trump fired back immediately: “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth…You’re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you.”

Collins, a former entertainment reporter who became a White House correspondent for The Daily Caller in 2016 and joined CNN a year later, has since anchored multiple news programs.

CNN later defended their employee in a statement, praising her professionalism:

“Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity. She skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day, which audiences around the world know they can trust.”

“Always stupid, and nasty”

This is not the first time Trump has singled out Collins. In December 2025, he called her “always stupid, and nasty” on Truth Social after she asked about a White House ballroom remodeling project. He has also insulted other female journalists, including CBS News’ Nancy Cordes, whom he called “a stupid person,” and The New York Times’ Katie Rogers, whom he labeled “ugly, both inside and out.”

The outburst comes as controversy continues to swirl over the release of Epstein’s investigative files. Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Trump’s Justice Department was required to disclose all documents related to Epstein by December 19, 2025. Yet the final release of over three million pages came more than a month late, leaving advocates for Epstein’s victims frustrated.

Jennifer Plotkin, representing over 30 victims, said: “The release of the files proves the government failed the victims over and over again,” according to The Guardian. Women’s rights attorney Dr. Ann Olivarius added that the documents do not clarify the immunity Epstein received, which allowed him to evade earlier investigations.

Legal experts have criticized the Justice Department for redactions and incomplete disclosures. Jennifer Freeman, representing victim Maria Farmer, asked: “Where is the rest of Maria Farmer’s FBI file? Where are the records of complaints that so many other women made to FBI and how the FBI investigated those complaints?” Congressman Jamie Raskin echoed the concern: “They’ve only released 3m with more than 10,000 redactions. What about the other 3m files? We’re just getting the dribs and drabs of information coming out, the stuff that they want us to see.”

In response, a Justice Department official said: “This is a tired narrative. Just because you wish something to be true, doesn’t mean it is. This Department produced more than 3.5 million pages in compliance with the law and has disclosed to the public and to Congress what items were not responsive, in accordance with the Act.”