Trump Deflects Epstein Files Question by Telling CNN's Kaitlan Collins to Smile
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins has revealed she was not "fazed" when former President Donald Trump deflected her question about the Jeffrey Epstein files by complaining she never smiles, but described his reaction as "revealing" about his attitude toward the serious issue of sex trafficking victims.
'It's Not a Laughing Matter'
During an appearance on the Absolutely Not podcast this week, Collins explained the context of the exchange that has drawn significant attention. "It's not a laughing matter, I don't think, to talk about sex trafficking victims," Collins told the podcast host. "And I've interviewed a lot of these women who were underage girls at the time and their stories are powerful."
The CNN journalist had asked Trump about justice for the women victimized by Epstein's operation during an interview, prompting an angry response from the former president. Trump began ranting about CNN and called Collins "the worst reporter" before complaining about her demeanor.
"You know she's a young woman," Trump said to others in the room before turning back to Collins. "I don't think I've ever seen you smile."
Focus on Victims, Not Personalities
Collins emphasized that her question wasn't about Trump personally but about the victims' perspectives. "In that moment, I was thinking, the question is about what these victims think," she explained. "It wasn't even anything accusatory of Trump himself, which I think in itself is revealing of how he thinks about it and how he is viewing it through the lens of himself."
The anchor made clear where she believed the focus should be: "It's not about me. It's not about me smiling and my expressions. It's what these women think about what your administration has done. And so I think that's why that moment resonated with so many people because just the issue at hand."
Pattern of Behavior Toward Female Journalists
This incident represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's interactions with female journalists. In December, Trump lashed out at Collins on Truth Social, describing her as "always Stupid and Nasty." He has consistently attacked other female journalists who have questioned him during Oval Office briefings and on press trips.
Just last week, while flying to Florida on Air Force One, Trump told Washington Post reporter Natalie Allison she had a "very bad attitude" after she questioned him about reported divisions within the MAGA base over his immigration agenda.
"Where are you from?" Trump asked Allison. "Washington Post? Are you having a hard time getting readers? The Washington Post is doing very poorly... You have a very bad attitude. Go ahead."
White House Response to Criticism
Despite the notable increase in Trump's use of what many describe as childish and degrading language toward female reporters over the past year, the White House has previously insisted the insults have "nothing to do with gender."
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Independent in December: "President Trump has never been politically correct, never holds back, and in large part, the American people re-elected him for his transparency. This has nothing to do with gender – it has everything to do with the fact that the president's and the public's trust in the media is at all time lows."
Collins' Perspective After Covering Trump for a Decade
Collins, who has covered Trump for ten years, noted that his responses rarely surprise her anymore. "He doesn't really surprise me that often with his responses," she said. However, she acknowledged that the seriousness of the Epstein files topic made this particular exchange resonate more strongly with her, prompting what observers described as a steely response.
The CNN anchor's comments highlight the tension between journalists seeking to ask substantive questions about serious issues and a president who frequently personalizes such exchanges, particularly when the questions come from female reporters.
