CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins is speaking out after President Donald Trump publicly chastised her for not smiling during a question about Jeffrey Epstein survivors. The president’s remark came during a Feb. 3 signing ceremony at the White House, and Collins is now calling his pattern of attacks on female reporters “inappropriate” while urging journalists to show more solidarity.
Collins appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Tuesday night, where she addressed Trump’s comment accusing her of never smiling in the 10 years he has known her. The president made the remark as Collins attempted to question him about Epstein survivors’ concerns regarding redactions in newly released documents and their feeling that “they haven’t gotten justice.”
Collins explained to Colbert that the moment struck a chord with many women because of the nature of her question. She said many women could relate to the situation and the emotion behind it. She added that the real reason it drew so much attention was that she was asking about survivors of sexual assault, and her question wasn’t even framed as an accusation toward the president.
The audience erupted in applause when Collins responded that it shouldn’t be considered controversial to avoid smiling while asking questions about a sex trafficker and victims of sexual assault.
CNN swiftly defended Collins, calling her “exceptional” in a public statement. The network’s response underscored escalating tensions between the White House and major news organizations over the president’s treatment of female journalists.
Collins, who has covered Trump for a decade, revealed that she has been flooded with photos of herself smiling since the exchange, including messages from family members proving “that I do indeed smile, when it’s appropriate.”
On Wednesday’s episode of Heather McMahan’s “Absolutely Not” podcast, Collins expanded on her concerns about Trump’s pattern of demeaning female reporters. She revealed that she reached out to Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey after Trump told Lucey “Quiet, piggy” following a question about Epstein in November 2025.
Collins recounted standing up for CBS correspondent Weijia Jiang during Trump’s first term after the president told Jiang to “go ask China that question” about COVID. Jiang was born in China and immigrated to the United States at age two, growing up in West Virginia. Collins refused to let Trump move on and insisted Jiang be allowed a follow-up question.
“Because if you don’t in that moment, one, it sends a message to the press corps, but also it sends a message to everyone who’s watching,” Collins explained. “And I do think solidarity is important.”
Trump has launched multiple attacks on female journalists in recent months. In November, he called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers “ugly, both inside and out” after she co-authored an article examining signs of fatigue in the 79-year-old president. He has also lashed out at ABC White House Correspondent Mary Bruce and Washington Post reporter Natalie Allison, telling Allison she had “a very bad attitude” while aboard Air Force One.
The president attacked Collins again on Truth Social after questioning at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony, misspelling her first name as “Caitlin” and calling her “stupid and nasty.” Trump claimed Collins asked about White House ballroom construction costs. Collins disputed this via Instagram, clarifying that her actual question concerned whether the FIFA Peace Prize might conflict with his pledge to strike Venezuela.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper came to Collins’s defense after Trump’s post on Truth Social, correcting the president’s spelling mistake and describing her questions as appropriate. Tapper noted that, in general, if someone or something truly doesn’t matter, the president usually doesn’t bring them up.
Collins told Colbert that while Trump’s attacks don’t surprise her anymore, this particular exchange stood out. “I don’t think it surprised me in the moment of the attack. I mean, the president has called me a lot of names, he’s gone after me and tried to deflect from the questions that we’re asking,” she said. “But in that moment, he is someone who is often politically savvy or tied in with what his base wants.”
Collins’s comments came as multiple news organizations face financial pressures. The Washington Post cut roughly one-third of its entire staff on February 4, with owner Jeff Bezos facing criticism for the sweeping layoffs. Trump referenced those cuts when attacking Allison, saying Washington Post is “doing very poorly” and “having a hard time getting readers.”
Collins emphasized the importance of reporters showing “backbone” when colleagues face presidential attacks. She urged journalists to demonstrate solidarity not just for their own sake, but because “it only furthers all of our jobs and mission.”
The CNN anchor’s message resonated beyond the press corps. Collins said women across the country have reached out to share their own experiences of being told to smile or facing similar condescension in professional settings. The exchange has sparked broader conversations about gender dynamics in journalism and the challenges female reporters face when holding power accountable.