CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins labeled as 'hack' and 'imbecile' by Meghan McCain, with a demand for revocation of her White House credentials
In a heated exchange during a recent White House press briefing, CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins found herself at odds with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The disagreement came after Collins pressed Gabbard on the timing and political motivations behind the release of certain intelligence assessments.
The tense exchange followed a series of contentious interactions between Collins and White House officials, with President Donald Trump publicly undermining Collins and dismissing CNN as biased. In April, a confrontation in the Oval Office over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia despite a Supreme Court order led Trump to accuse Collins of lacking credibility.
The dispute during the briefing revolved around a years-long controversy over Russian interference in the 2016 election and the origins of the collusion narrative. Gabbard introduced a new trove of declassified documents meant to support President Donald Trump's accusation that former President Barack Obama and his top officials committed 'treason' by manipulating intelligence related to Russia's involvement in the election.
Collins questioned Gabbard about a 2017 report signed by Marco Rubio and other Senate Republicans, which stated that while no collusion was found, Russia had meddled in the election. Kaitlan Collins stood her ground and doubled down on her questioning, despite pushback from Gabbard and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt defended the administration during the briefing, criticizing the previous intelligence narrative and accusing the press of trying to sow distrust and chaos amongst the president's cabinet. Leavitt also referenced the discredited Steele dossier, stating that it was cooked up and paid for by the Clinton campaign.
The criticism from Collins came after a series of harsh words from Meghan McCain, who referred to Collins as an 'absolute imbecile' and a 'pure partisan hack.' McCain has gone from a vocal critic of Tulsi Gabbard to an ally in recent years. However, her calls for Collins' press credentials to be revoked have added fuel to the fire.
Trump dismissed Gabbard's assertion earlier this year that the Iranian government was not pursuing nuclear weapons. The president ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, a decision that has been met with both support and criticism.
Throughout it all, Collins has remained steadfast in her journalistic pursuit of the truth, drawing both praise and criticism for her confrontational questioning style. As the White House continues to grapple with controversies both at home and abroad, the role of the press in holding those in power accountable has never been more important.
