In a candid interview published Tuesday, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins asserted that President Trump's most loyal supporters are unaware of his deep-seated need for approval from the very news outlets they deride. Speaking with New York Times reporter Shawn McCreesh for Interview magazine, Collins peeled back the layers of Trump's complex relationship with the press.
Collins described Trump as a figure who presents a tough, anti-media facade in public but privately craves recognition from the same institutions he attacks. “He has always played the media game,” she told McCreesh. “He used to impersonate someone and call in and speak positively about himself. I think his base doesn’t always realize he seeks validation from the same mainstream media they all trash.”
The conversation also delved into Trump's treatment of female reporters, a pattern Collins says has become more pronounced during his current term. While she acknowledged that Trump dislikes tough questions from anyone, she noted a distinct hostility toward women who press him. “I don’t think the president likes tough questions from anyone, and he’s threatened a lot of our colleagues who are men, like Jonathan Karl and Peter Alexander,” she said. “But I do think that this term, people have started to notice the difference in his reaction when women like Mary Bruce or Nancy Cordes are doing the questioning.”
McCreesh recalled a moment at Mar-a-Lago in November when Trump asked CBS News's Cordes if she was “a stupid person.” Collins added that Trump had called Catherine Lucey “Miss Piggy” on Air Force One. “All of them are excellent reporters. They don’t need our defense because they know they’re awesome,” Collins said.
Last week, Collins herself became the target of Trump's ire during an Oval Office press session. After she asked about the Department of Justice's anti-weaponization fund, Trump accused her of having “hatred in her eyes” and remarked, “You never see a young, beautiful woman who never smiles.” CNN's Anderson Cooper defended Collins, noting that such comments about appearance and demeanor are not directed at male reporters. Former Trump spokesperson Sarah Matthews also came to Collins's defense, calling the attacks misogynistic.
The president's confrontations with the media extend beyond Collins. Over the weekend, Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC News's Kristen Welker on Meet the Press after she challenged his false claims about the 2020 election. He called Welker and NBC “crooked” before removing his microphone and walking out.
This latest episode underscores Trump's ongoing battle with the press, a dynamic that Collins argues his supporters fail to fully grasp. As the 2024 campaign heats up, the president's relationship with the media remains a lightning rod, with female journalists often bearing the brunt of his attacks.
