Trump berates CNN's Kaitlan Collins at WHCA dinner, calls her award 'fake'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used his speech at Friday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner to launch another attack on a female reporter, this time targeting CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.

During his remarks at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, Trump questioned the legitimacy of an award Collins had recently received from the WHCA.

"But I wanna personally congratulate CNN's Kaitlan Collins on receiving her award. It's all about me; it's a fake. She shouldn't get the award; it was a fake, but I didn't mind. I said, 'Kaitlan, congratulations,' but it was fake, there's no question about it."

The president described Collins as a "young attractive woman" but added that "she never smiles."

"I said, 'Kaitlan, do you ever smile?' Smile, you have a nice position, you're at CNN fake news, you should be a happy person."

Trump then pivoted to a rant about social media personality Dylan Mulvaney, claiming he initially mistook Collins for the person featured in Mulvaney's 2023 Bud Light promotion.

"Dylan Mulvaney cost Bud Light $35 billion in market cap. That was the worst commercial ever made, by the way, for those few people who wanna hear that, most people don't care, but I would, I wouldn't wanna hire Dylan anytime soon."

CNN Responds

A CNN spokesperson issued a statement Saturday defending Collins:

"Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional, trusted journalist being honoured tonight for her depth of knowledge and the context she provides to audiences all over the world. She reports every day from the White House and the field with real strength and tenacity and skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day. We stand by her to the fullest extent."

Background

Collins was awarded the WHCA's Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure in the broadcast journalism category in March. In addition to hosting CNN's The Source, she serves as the network's chief White House correspondent.

Trump has a history of lashing out at female reporters, particularly Collins. Earlier this week, he also berated ABC's Mary Bruce after she asked about his plan for the war in Iran.

"How would you know there are no signs? Why, do you know something I don't know? You don't know what the dialogue is behind the scenes, that they want to meet desperately to try to end it, because they're getting decimated," Trump said. "You don't get that when you listen to your fake station, but you don't know, you don't know anything."

Listen to the full audio of Trump's remarks here.