Trump Tells CNN Reporter to ‘Smile’ During Exchange on Epstein Files
U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a fresh wave of debate over presidential decorum and media relations after berating CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins during a press interaction in the Oval Office on Tuesday. The unusual exchange occurred as Collins pressed Trump on behalf of survivors in response to the newly released Epstein files, a batch of documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The exchange began when Collins asked the president what he would say to women who feel they have not received justice under the U.S. justice system following the disclosure of highly redacted materials. Instead of addressing the substantive question, Trump responded with personal criticism, accusing Collins of never smiling and lambasting her reporting. “You are the worst reporter … I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” he said, later adding that her network suffers low ratings because of journalists like her.
The comment quickly grabbed attention due to both its tone and timing. Many observers noted the disconnect between a question about abuse survivors’ search for justice and a personal remark about a reporter’s demeanor. Collins, a seasoned correspondent who has covered the White House for years, attempted to answer that she was focused on survivors of a sexual abuser, but Trump continued to criticize her and the broader media organization.
CNN defended Collins in the aftermath of the incident. A network spokesperson called her “an exceptional journalist” whose work includes in-depth reporting from the White House and around the world. The network’s statement emphasized Collins’ professionalism in the face of what it described as an unwarranted personal attack.
The remark also triggered reactions from across the political and media landscape. Some commentators and late-night hosts mocked the president’s focus on a smile, framing it as an inappropriate detour from urgent issues surrounding the Epstein documents. Others interpreted the outburst as part of a broader pattern in which Trump has frequently clashed with female reporters and the press overall.
The Epstein files themselves have been a flashpoint of controversy, revealing names and communications of prominent figures and prompting critics to call for greater transparency as well as accountability for how alleged victims were treated. Debate continues over both the contents of the files and how political leaders address related public concerns.
As of now, Collins has continued her reporting without publicly escalating the confrontation, while the broader national conversation about media freedom, presidential conduct, and justice for abuse survivors persists.
