Quick Read
- President Trump criticized CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for not smiling during an Oval Office press inquiry on February 3, 2026.
- Collins was questioning Trump about Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to his allies and the lack of justice for abuse survivors.
- Trump called Collins ‘the worst reporter’ and accused her of dishonesty for her demeanor.
- The White House later shared video of the contentious exchange on social media.
- Trump has a history of verbally clashing with Collins and other journalists during press events.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – President Donald Trump publicly admonished CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, criticizing her for not smiling while she persistently questioned him about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse and the status of his victims. The contentious exchange, which the White House later promoted on social media, highlighted ongoing tensions between the administration and the press, particularly when journalists challenge the president on sensitive topics.
Oval Office Confrontation Over Epstein Questions
The incident unfolded during an Oval Office event that President Trump intended to use for self-promotion. However, the focus quickly shifted as Kaitlan Collins, a seasoned CNN correspondent, pressed him on the recent disclosures from the Jeffrey Epstein files. Collins began by noting that while Trump attempted to frame the documents as damaging primarily to Democrats, they also revealed close ties between Epstein and two of Trump’s allies: Elon Musk and his Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick.
President Trump dismissively shrugged off the mention of Musk and Lutnick, stating he had not read their emails with Epstein but was ‘sure they’re fine,’ adding, ‘otherwise there would’ve been major headlines.’ Collins countered by pointing out that headlines about Musk and Lutnick’s closer-than-stated relationship with Epstein had, in fact, emerged.
The discussion intensified when Collins highlighted the dissatisfaction of many Epstein abuse survivors with the Justice Department’s redaction of documents, including the complete blacking out of entire witness interviews. Trump attempted to shut down the line of questioning, declaring, ‘I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else, now that nothing came out about me.’ He then suggested a ‘conspiracy against me,’ referencing a previously disclosed email where author Michael Wolff urged Epstein to come forward to ‘help finish’ Trump’s 2016 campaign after the infamous Access Hollywood tape was published, a suggestion Epstein ultimately declined.
Trump’s Verbal Attack on Collins’ Demeanor
As President Trump tried again to end the exchange, Collins pressed further, asking, ‘But what would you say to people who feel they haven’t gotten justice, Mr. President?’ An visibly irritated Trump responded with a personal attack, calling her ‘the worst reporter’ and disparaging her to the Republican lawmakers present around his desk.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,’ Trump told Collins directly, adding, ‘I’ve known you for ten years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.’ Collins interjected, reminding him, ‘I’m asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, Mr. President.’ Ignoring her reply, Trump continued his tirade, asserting, ‘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.’ Collins reiterated, ‘These are survivors of a sexual abuser,’ before Trump abruptly ended the exchange by turning to another reporter who then changed the subject.
Past Tensions and White House Response
This was not the first time President Trump has publicly expressed anger towards Kaitlan Collins, who previously reported for the conservative Daily Caller. During his first term, he famously stormed out of a 2020 news conference when Collins refused to yield the floor to another reporter after Trump deemed a question ‘nasty.’
Following Tuesday’s confrontation, White House aides quickly clipped video of the exchange and posted it on an official social media account, with a caption suggesting the president had ‘nuked’ the CNN correspondent. This move appeared to signal the administration’s approval and even pride in the president’s aggressive interaction with the journalist.
The incident underscores a persistent pattern in the Trump administration’s relationship with the press, where persistent questioning on uncomfortable subjects can lead to personal attacks on reporters rather than direct answers, thereby shifting focus from the substance of the inquiry to the demeanor of the questioner.