This Shocking Moment Between Trump’s Press Secretary and a Reporter Will Leave You Speechless! What’s the Hidden Truth?

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins recently opened up about her complex relationship with political figures, sharing an unexpected moment involving White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This revelation came during an interview on the “Absolutely Not” podcast hosted by Heather McMahan.

In what she described as a tense interaction, Collins reflected on an incident that took place during a presidential trip to Saudi Arabia in May. While covering the event, she shouted a question at then-President Donald Trump as he stood alongside world leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Collins emphasized the challenging environment for journalists in Saudi Arabia, stating, “They famously do not like the media there. To put it lightly.”

Though Trump didn’t respond to her question, the reaction from the Saudi Royal Guard was swift and severe. According to Collins, the guards were taken aback by her audacity to ask a question, which was not customary in their interactions with the media. “They freaked out because I dared to ask a question, and they’re not used to that,” she recounted.

Shortly thereafter, security officials informed Collins that she would be barred from the next scheduled event, which was set to occur just two minutes later. “And I was like, ‘That’s not how this works. I go into the U.S. press,’ and they were like, ‘Well, you’re not coming in,’” she said, illustrating the pushback journalists often face in foreign contexts.

The situation escalated until younger White House staff members, unsure of how to deal with the Saudi officials, turned to Leavitt for guidance. “To her credit, she said, ‘No, Kaitlan’s coming in with the rest of the U.S. press,’ and we went in,” Collins noted. This intervention not only allowed her to maintain her access but also upheld American press standards while abroad.

Collins highlighted the significance of this moment, indicating it was a rare instance where a press secretary supported a journalist’s rights against foreign pressure. However, she also acknowledged the inherent tension in the relationship between the media and the press secretary’s office. “You’re covering things that they’re trying to spin in the best light for their boss,” she explained. “You’re asking questions that maybe they don’t want to fully answer, and so that is something that always exists.”

This dynamic was further complicated by Collins' recent confrontation with Trump. On February 3, during a visit to the Oval Office, Trump labeled her the “worst reporter” after she inquired about redacted Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He claimed that her performance was partly responsible for CNN's struggles in ratings, adding, “You know, she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”

Reflecting on Trump's comments, Collins remarked that after covering him for a decade, his reactions no longer surprise her. She pointed out that when leaders attack or belittle reporters, it often serves as a distraction from substantive questions being posed. “Any president and anyone who’s in a position of power funded by taxpayer dollars, when they’re trying to argue you, or belittle you, or criticize you, it takes away from the point of the question and it deflects from what you’re actually trying to ask,” she argued.

This exchange sheds light on the broader challenges journalists face in holding powerful figures accountable, particularly in a political climate where media scrutiny is often met with hostility. Collins’ experiences illustrate not only the risks involved in political reporting but also the necessity of maintaining press freedoms, especially when representing American interests on the global stage.