Vice President JD Vance offered unsolicited advice to CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins following a contentious exchange between the reporter and President Donald Trump, telling members of the White House press corps they should “have some fun” and not take themselves too seriously.
The 41-year-old vice president weighed in on an incident that occurred Tuesday when Trump, 79, interrupted Collins, 33, as she attempted to ask a question about survivors connected to Jeffrey Epstein. The president launched into a personal attack on the CNN journalist, criticizing her demeanor and questioning her credibility.
“You are so bad. You know, you are the worst reporter. No wonder—CNN has no ratings because of people like you. 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,” Trump said during the exchange.
Collins was asking a question about Epstein survivors when Trump interrupted her. Behind the camera, Collins could be heard saying she was asking about survivors, but Trump continued his criticism. He went on to claim Collins was not smiling because she was not telling the truth, and called CNN a dishonest organization.
Vance was not in the room for the tense interaction but was shown a clip of it later. In a Wednesday interview with Megyn Kelly, the vice president said Trump’s comment was perceptive.
Vance explained that while she was pressing her question, the president responded with “Why don’t you ever smile,” which he took as unexpectedly insightful. He suggested that even when a reporter is asking something tough or approaching the job with seriousness, it doesn’t necessarily have to come across as hostile.
Vance told reporters to have some fun and said they can’t take themselves too seriously.
The vice president claimed that journalists act differently when the other party is in power, saying this demonstrates the White House press corps has a political bias.
Vance said audiences would trust the media more if reporters expressed a range of emotions. He said nobody is angry all the time, and when journalists come across as angry all the time, it seems fake.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and members of the media, particularly female journalists who have faced repeated personal attacks from the president. The incident Tuesday was far from Trump’s first confrontation with Collins specifically.
In April, Trump called Collins a low-rated anchor during a press conference. The president escalated his rhetoric in December when he posted on Truth Social calling her “Stupid and Nasty.” Trump has been combative with Collins and several other female reporters throughout his political career.
Collins said Trump’s response shed light on his thoughts about the files.
The dynamic between Trump and the press has long been confrontational, with the president frequently attacking journalists who ask challenging questions. His criticism often focuses on the credibility of news organizations and the personal characteristics of individual reporters, particularly women.
Vance’s comments characterizing Trump’s behavior as “perceptive” represent an extension of the administration’s adversarial relationship with mainstream media outlets. By framing Collins’ professional demeanor as problematic, the vice president appeared to validate Trump’s personal attacks as legitimate criticism.
The exchange also raises questions about gender dynamics in presidential press interactions. Trump’s focus on Collins’ facial expressions and his comment about her being a “young woman” echo criticisms that female journalists face different and more personal attacks than their male counterparts.
Vance’s characterization of press questioning as “antagonistic” reflects a broader administration narrative that portrays aggressive journalism as inappropriate rather than as a necessary function of holding powerful officials accountable. His suggestion that reporters need to express different emotions implies that tough questioning represents personal hostility rather than professional duty.
The pattern of confrontations between Trump and Collins spans years, predating his current term in office. The president’s claim that he has known Collins for 10 years and never seen her smile suggests a long-standing personal antagonism that extends beyond any single exchange.