Share News that unites, stories that inspire!

Tweet

Trump CNN Epstein Files Clash: Trump Berates CNN Correspondent Over Epstein Inquiry, Demands She “Smile”

A routine Oval Office bill signing descended into a viral confrontation on Tuesday as President Donald Trump launched a blistering personal attack on CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins. The exchange, sparked by questions regarding the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents, saw the President dismiss the journalist as “the worst reporter” and criticise her physical demeanour in a moment that has since ignited a firestorm across social media and the Beltway.

The Spark: A Question of Justice

The volatility began innocuously enough as the press pool gathered for the signing of a government funding bill. As the photo opportunity concluded, Collins seized the moment to press the President on the Department of Justice’s controversial handling of the “Epstein Files.”

Citing the frustration of survivors regarding the “total blackouts” of key witness interviews in the redacted documents, Collins asked the President for his message to those who felt justice was being obstructed.

The inquiry appeared to strike a nerve. President Trump, who has frequently claimed the files would exonerate him, immediately sought to shut down the line of questioning.

“I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else,” Trump insisted, waving a hand dismissively. “Now that nothing came out about me… it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people.”

Trump CNN Epstein Files Clash “I’ve Never Seen You Smile”

When Collins attempted to follow up on the specific concerns of the victims, the President shifted from policy defence to personal offence.

Visibly agitated, Trump pointed a finger directly at the correspondent. “You are the worst reporter,” he snapped, his voice rising over the cameras. “No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you.”

The criticism then took a bizarre and deeply personal turn. Leaning forward over the Resolute Desk, the President critiqued Collins’ facial expressions—a remark that critics later called tonally jarring given the grim subject matter of sex trafficking.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” Trump declared. “For ten years, I’ve never seen a smile on your face. You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth.”

He concluded the tirade by labelling CNN a “very dishonest organisation” that should be “ashamed” to employ her.

A Pattern of Hostility

Tuesday’s outburst was not an isolated incident but the latest flashpoint in an escalating war of attrition between the Trump administration and the press corps—specifically female journalists.

Political analysts note a distinct pattern in the President’s recent rhetoric. In late 2025, he referred to ABC’s Mary Bruce as a “terrible person” and suggested revoking the network’s license. Weeks later, he was heard telling a Bloomberg reporter to be a “quiet, piggy” when pressed on evidence in the Epstein emails.

“The strategy is clear,” said a media historian regarding the incident. “When the topic threatens to become a legal liability, the response is to attack the messenger’s credibility and, frequently, their appearance or demeanour.”

The Fallout

The exchange went viral almost immediately, with the clip garnering millions of views within hours. The irony of the President demanding a journalist “smile” while she questioned him about the victims of a notorious sex offender was not lost on the public.

“Asking a woman to smile while she is asking about justice for sex abuse survivors is a new low,” commented users in X.

CNN responded swiftly to the attack. In a statement released Tuesday evening, the network defended Collins, calling her an “exceptional journalist” who reports with “depth and tenacity” and refusing to back down from the inquiry.

While the President hoped to declare the Epstein saga closed, the confrontation has seemingly achieved the opposite. By attacking the messenger so viciously, the administration has inadvertently shone a spotlight back on the very files—and the redacted names within them—that they hoped the country would move past.