President Donald Trump directed sharp criticism at CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins during a question-and-answer session following a bill signing at the White House, accusing her and her network of dishonesty in a pointed exchange that highlighted ongoing tensions between the administration and certain media outlets. The remarks came amid fresh releases of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, where Trump’s name appears frequently, underscoring persistent public interest in the matter years after Epstein’s death.

Reporters questioned Trump about new Epstein files after the Justice Department released 3 million documents mentioning him over 1,500 times, mostly in neutral contexts but raising scrutiny due to his past ties to Epstein. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who has covered Trump since his first campaign and gained attention moderating a controversial 2023 town hall, is known for her pointed questions and has clashed with him repeatedly. Asked about the files, including mentions of Elon Musk and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump said he hadn’t read them, called them unremarkable, and dismissed references to himself as conspiratorial. When pressed on survivors who feel justice hasn’t been served, he attacked Collins personally: “You’re the worst reporter. No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you. I’ve known you for ten years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face. You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth. You’re a very dishonest organization — and they should be ashamed of you.”

.@POTUS NUKES @kaitlancollins:

"I've known you for ten years. I don't think I've ever seen a smile on your face. You know why you're not smiling? Because you know you're not telling the truth. You're a very dishonest organization — and they should be ashamed of you." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GJFcH6vqvi

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026

Trump concluded the session by thanking those present and directing the press to exit, signaling an end to the questions. The episode reflects broader dynamics in media relations under his administration, particularly as document releases like those on Epstein continue to draw attention and provoke responses from key figures.