Former President Donald Trump has launched a vicious attack on CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, labeling her "stupid and nasty" in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. The criticism stems from Collins' coverage of the planned White House ballroom expansion, which has drawn significant scrutiny over its escalating costs and the recent replacement of the original architect.
The project, initially slated for $200 million, is now projected to cost around $300 million, with design changes and a new lead architect contributing to the increased expense. The administration has yet to provide updated figures on the renovation's scope, fueling public concern over the transparency surrounding the project.
In an Instagram Story response, Collins shared a screenshot of Trump's message, captioned "Technically, my question was about Venezuela," referencing her questioning at a recent press conference about foreign policy. Her response serves as a counterpoint to Trump's attempt to deflect criticism and undermine her reporting.
This latest exchange is part of a pattern in which Trump has publicly targeted journalists, particularly female journalists, who have questioned administration priorities or spending. The attack on Collins highlights the ongoing tension between Trump and the media, with the former president using his social media platform to criticize and belittle those who dare to hold him accountable.
The ballroom expansion's cost increase has sparked debate over the administration's transparency and accountability, with many questioning why details about the renovation were not made available sooner. As the project moves forward, Collins' reporting will undoubtedly continue to scrutinize the administration's decision-making process, even in the face of Trump's vicious attacks.
The project, initially slated for $200 million, is now projected to cost around $300 million, with design changes and a new lead architect contributing to the increased expense. The administration has yet to provide updated figures on the renovation's scope, fueling public concern over the transparency surrounding the project.
In an Instagram Story response, Collins shared a screenshot of Trump's message, captioned "Technically, my question was about Venezuela," referencing her questioning at a recent press conference about foreign policy. Her response serves as a counterpoint to Trump's attempt to deflect criticism and undermine her reporting.
This latest exchange is part of a pattern in which Trump has publicly targeted journalists, particularly female journalists, who have questioned administration priorities or spending. The attack on Collins highlights the ongoing tension between Trump and the media, with the former president using his social media platform to criticize and belittle those who dare to hold him accountable.
The ballroom expansion's cost increase has sparked debate over the administration's transparency and accountability, with many questioning why details about the renovation were not made available sooner. As the project moves forward, Collins' reporting will undoubtedly continue to scrutinize the administration's decision-making process, even in the face of Trump's vicious attacks.
. Trump is just trying to silence Kaitlan Collins because he knows she's asking tough questions and holding him accountable. Newsflash, Donny: you can't just belittle someone on social media and expect it to go away. The fact that he's attacking a female journalist specifically is even more concerning - it's like he thinks women in journalism are somehow less capable or less deserving of respect.
and btw who needs truth social when u can just ask for facts from actual news sites lmao
what's up with this dude? can't handle a little criticism from a female journalist? it's like he thinks he's above scrutiny just 'cause he's the prez 
Collins was just doing her job, asking tough questions, and now she gets roasted by Trump. it's pathetic. 
It's just so unprofessional and pathetic at this point. I feel bad for Collins, she's just trying to do her reporting thing and Trump is over here acting like a toddler having a meltdown 
. And can we talk about the fact that he thinks attacking someone on social media makes them "stupid and nasty" 
? Give me a break, dude!
OMG what is wrong with this guy?? First off he can't even be bothered to watch a press conference live and then he tries to attack the journalist on his social media? Like, grow up Donnie 
. I mean, come on, using a personal attack like that on social media is just not okay. It's like he thinks he can intimidate people into not asking questions. Newsflash: we need journalists like Collins holding the administration accountable for their actions. And let's be real, Venezuela was not even relevant to her question 
.
Honestly, can't believe what I'm reading. Like, what's next? Are we gonna see someone calling out the BBC for being "slow" or something? Get real, Trump's just mad 'cause Collins was asking tough questions and he didn't have a good answer. The guy's been using his platform to attack people all day, every day... it's getting old. And btw, if he wants to talk about Venezuela, that's a whole different story – or at least try to relate it to the actual topic, you know? 
It's like he thinks that if you question his spending habits, you're somehow personalizing the issue or attacking him personally, rather than doing your job as a journalist. 
It's like he's trying to control the narrative, but really he's just losing the conversation. 
It's just not right. I remember when journalists used to have some respect for each other... nowadays it seems like they're all trying to one-up each other instead of focusing on getting the story straight 
. Anyway, I'm glad Collins is pushing back against Trump's attacks and keeping him accountable 
. Trump's response to Collins' questioning on his platform Truth Social is a textbook case of deflective tactics, where he attempts to shift the narrative away from the issue at hand (the escalating costs of the White House ballroom expansion) and onto a tangential point about Venezuela 
. This tactic speaks to the broader trend of Trump using social media to undermine the credibility of journalists who have held him accountable for his actions 
. Ultimately, this exchange serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle between those who seek transparency and accountability in government, and those who would rather avoid scrutiny 
.