CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins once again found herself the target of President Donald Trump’s ongoing hostility toward the network during a heated exchange at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting on July 8. As Collins attempted to ask a question, Trump immediately dismissed her with a curt, “No. Not for CNN,” before shifting his attention to another reporter.
The moment marked yet another chapter in Trump’s long-standing feud with Collins, whom he’s previously called “disrespectful” and accused of asking “biased” questions. Throughout the meeting, Collins made multiple attempts to ask questions, including one about U.S. military support for Ukraine.
Her inquiries were largely ignored or met with sarcasm. At one point, as she asked who authorized the recent pause in military aid to Ukraine, Trump replied casually, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” Trump continued taking jabs at both Collins and CNN, mocking the network’s ratings and credibility.
“Fortunately, nobody watches. Is anybody watching CNN nowadays? I haven’t seen it in a long time,” he said, before adding, “I only watch to learn from the enemy—see where they’re coming from.” While Collins was repeatedly stonewalled, other reporters were given the opportunity to ask questions.
Trump used the occasion to announce that he and First Lady Melania Trump would travel to Texas on Friday to assess the aftermath of the recent flash floods. He also unveiled a new policy restricting Chinese nationals from owning farmland in the U.S., a move that includes rolling back existing land purchases.
According to NPR, China currently owns more than 380,000 acres of American farmland. Trump’s contentious relationship with Collins is nothing new. The pair’s confrontations date back to several high-profile events, including a tense exchange during a CNN town hall in May 2023.
Moderating the event, Collins pressed Trump on his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, prompting him to lash out, “Are you ready? Can I talk? Do you mind?” When Collins insisted he answer her question, Trump fired back, “It’s very simple—and you are a nasty person, I’ll tell ya,” eliciting loud cheers and laughter from the crowd.
Another notable moment occurred during a joint Oval Office appearance with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. When Collins asked about a Supreme Court ruling on deportation, Trump interrupted, saying, “Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ That’s why nobody watches you anymore. You have no credibility.”
Despite the repeated clashes, Collins has remained one of the few reporters consistently willing to challenge the former president head-on, even when the spotlight turns combative.