Donald Trump’s streak of attacking female journalists grew longer this weekend after he targeted CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, calling her “stupid and nasty” in a Truth Social post that also misspelled her name. The president appeared triggered by Collins’ inquiry about cost overruns in his sprawling White House ballroom project, though it remains unclear when the exchange took place.
In the Dec. 6 post, Trump blasted “Caitlin Collin’s of Fake News CNN,” accusing her of questioning why the ballroom was running higher than the initial estimate. He offered his own explanation: the room is now “double the size” and upgraded with “the highest level” of finishes. Trump also claimed the project is both “under budget and ahead of schedule,” despite reports showing the renovation’s cost rising from an estimated $200 million to roughly $300 million.
The White House demolished the East Wing in October to make way for the ballroom, a move that drew scrutiny from lawmakers who questioned oversight and historical preservation. Trump insisted no taxpayer money is involved, saying the renovation is covered entirely by private donors — including himself.
Collins later reposted Trump’s screed on her Instagram Stories with a pointed clarification: “Technically my question was about Venezuela.” The exchange underscored the dissonance often present between Trump’s online grievances and the interactions journalists describe.
The attack on Collins fits into a broader pattern. On Thanksgiving, Trump berated CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes after she pressed him about the vetting of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in a Washington, D.C., shooting involving National Guard members. “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?” Trump snapped, interrupting her multiple times.
Just a day earlier, he targeted New York Times reporter Katie Rogers, calling her “ugly, both inside and out” after the paper published a story examining how his age is affecting his daily schedule during his second term.
Two weeks before that, he silenced Bloomberg journalist Catherine Lucey when she asked whether Epstein emails contained anything incriminating. Pointing at her, he hissed, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” Collins publicly defended Lucey afterward, calling her “a great job” journalist in a post on X.
