Trump Calls CNN’s Kaitlan Collins ‘Dumb & Unhappy’ in Truth Social Attack
President Donald Trump posted a series of attacks against CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Truth Social on Tuesday, calling her “very dumb and unhappy” following her Monday night election coverage special.
Trump’s posts criticized Collins and her panel discussion on The Source, which aired Monday ahead of the midterm elections. The president claimed the show featured “FICTION AND LIES” without specifying which segments prompted his response.
What Trump Posted
“Very dumb and unhappy Fake News CNN ‘reporter,’ Kaitlan Collins (really low ratings, also!), had a panel where discussions were all FICTION AND LIES,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
He continued his criticism of the network, stating: “You would think that CNN, which is suffering terribly in the TV Ratings, would get rid of their 3rd-rate ‘anchors,’ and try to bring credibility back to their once-storied network.”
Monday’s Episode
Collins hosted a special Countdown to Election Night edition of The Source on Monday featuring Republican strategist Doug Heye, New York Times reporter Shawn McCreesh, and other political figures.
During the broadcast, Heye criticized Trump’s campaign spending, saying “Donald wants to spend money on himself. He doesn’t want to give things away.” This comment may have prompted the president’s response, though Trump did not specify the exact content that prompted his posts.
CNN’s Response
A CNN spokesperson defended Collins in response to the attacks, telling outlets that “Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity.”
The network emphasized that Collins brings rigorous reporting to her anchor duties, which audiences trust across multiple CNN platforms.
Pattern of Attacks
This marks the latest in a series of personal attacks Trump has directed at Collins over several months. In December, he called her “stupid” and “nasty” during a separate incident.
In February, Trump stated he had never seen Collins smile, a criticism he reiterated at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in July. At that same event, he compared her to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, a comparison widely criticized as inappropriate.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.