All posts tagged "kaitlan collins"

'Don't care what she said': Trump disses his own national intelligence director

President Donald Trump dismissed an assessment on Iran's nuclear capabilities made by his own director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, when asked about the situation on his way back to Washington from the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada.

Trump left the summit early on Monday, citing the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran that's raged for five days over Iran's development of nuclear weapons.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was seeking "a real end" to the conflict, "not a ceasefire."

"So, something that will be permanent?" a reporter asked Trump.

"Yeah, or giving up entirely, that's okay, too," Trump answered. "A complete 'give up.' That's possible, yeah."

CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked Trump about DNI Gabbard's testimony in March about the imminence of an Iranian nuclear threat.

"You've always said that you don't believe Iran should be able to have a nuclear weapon, but how close do you personally think that they were to getting one?" Collins asked.

Trump answered, "Very close."

"Because Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community said Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon," Collins continued.

"I don't care what she said," Trump snapped. "I think they were very close to having one."

CNN's Zachary Cohen noted Trump '"appearing to dismiss the testimony from his own top intelligence chief."

Cohen continued, "A senior U.S. official, also telling me that Iran is, quote, 'As close as you can get before building a nuclear weapon.' Saying further, 'They have all the things you need in order to do so.'"

Cohen said the timeline was important in determining the potential for U.S. involvement in the conflict, saying, "It seems Donald Trump has made up his mind, though."

Cohen said it remains to be seen what steps Trump would take to prevent Iran from fully developing nuclear capabilities.

"Yeah, ultimately, that's what's important here, probably in terms of U.S. action," said anchor John Berman. "What Donald Trump thinks the truth is."

Watch the clip below via CNN.

'Extremely odd': Experts question revealing runway video of ousted Trump aide Mike Waltz

CNN's Kaitlan Collins played video Thursday that may have helped predict National Security Adviser Mike Waltz's downfall from the Trump administration.

It was recorded earlier this week, showing Waltz arriving at Andrews Air Force Base via Marine One, then moving to the side of the plane as Trump adviser Stephen Miller is seen bounding up the stairs to Air Force One.

"There was a moment that CNN saw on Tuesday when the president was going to Michigan on his 100 days in office, and Mike Waltz, we noticed, traveled on Marine One with him. But 10 minutes later, you see it. Joint Base Andrews, that's his figure. He does not get on Air Force One. It's only about a 10-minute flight, so it's extremely odd to to take the helicopter flight and then not actually go on the trip."

Also read: 'Never so scared': Furious pastor berates cops after witnessing tasing of MTG constituent

Collins said she was told that Waltz wasn't supposed to fly to Michigan, but she was skeptical because she learned that Waltz "was told...earlier this week that his time as the National Security adviser had come to an end, and it was time for him to leave. And now we are told that he will be departing and so will his top deputy."

CNN's Jeff Zeleny remarked, "That video is so fascinating — what it doesn't show — the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is on the plane and he flew to Michigan with the president. And, I'm told, the president throughout the day embraced the Defense secretary. Yesterday at the Cabinet meeting, it was so clear he — so when you sort of step back at this, why Waltz and not Hegseth? Because, as Kaitlan says, he invited Jeffrey Goldberg into the chat, and that was sort of seen as the original sin."

News broke Thursday that Waltz and his deputy would be leaving the White House. Although no reason was given, Waltz was pegged for setting up the Signal app chat that inadvertently included a journalist along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss airstrikes on Yemen.

Watch the CNN clip below or click here.

Jeff Bezos reamed out by Trump in call minutes before Amazon debunked tariff report: CNN

CNN's Alayna Treene reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos purportedly to chew him out over reports that the company planned to reveal price increases due to the administration's imposed tariffs on its website.

"Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Tuesday morning to complain about reports that his company was considering displaying the cost U.S. tariffs next to prices for certain products on its website, two senior White House officials told @CNN."

In subsequent posts, Treene wrote, "The call came shortly after one of the senior officials phoned the president to inform him of the story The controversy comes as Trump & Bezos have grown increasingly close in recent months. Bezos often visits the West Wing when in Washington to meet with the president."

Treene continued, "Soon after the call between Trump & Bezos, an Amazon spokesman released a statement clarifying the move wasn't considered for the main Amazon site but was considered for Amazon Haul The spox later sent CNN a revised stmt, adding: 'This was never approved and not going to happen.'"

Also read: 'Never so scared': Furious pastor berates cops after witnessing tasing of MTG constituent

The situation began with reporting from Punchbowl News that was headlined, "Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers."

The White House responded in a Tuesday morning press briefing, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling Amazon's reported move as "a hostile and political act by Amazon."

CNN's Kaitlan Collins called Leavitt's comments "remarkable" and an "incredibly aggressive response."

"If I had told you this was the response from the White House eight years ago, you might not have been as surprised," Collins continued. "That was when the president was openly feuding with Jeff Bezos, was highly critical of The Washington Post and its coverage of him. But Jeff Bezos came to the president's inauguration. He was seated there among him. He has had dinner with him. He's been here at the White House since then. And, so, it is remarkable to to hear what the White House's response to that was."

The Washington Post's Jeff Stein then broke the news on X that "Amazon Spox now saying this was never under consideration for the main Amazon website. Says Amazon Haul has considered listing import price duties on certain products."

Bezos hasn't yet publicly commented on the controversy.

'Remarkable': CNN's Kaitlan Collins left in awe by 'aggressive' White House swipe

The White House's response to retail giant Amazon's plans to display price increases caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs drew robust commentary from CNN analysts Tuesday.

In a morning press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazon's move "a hostile and political act by Amazon."

"It was remarkable that Karoline Leavitt said she had just gotten off the phone with President Trump...and it was an incredibly aggressive response," CNN's Kaitlan Collins began. "The White House saying they believe that that is a hostile move by Amazon to do that and to list those prices and reflect basically what the impact of the president's tariffs are going to be."

Collins said that Trump's response was "all the more notable" because of his relationship with Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and The Washington Post.

Also read: 'Never so scared': Furious pastor berates cops after witnessing tasing of MTG constituent

Global economic analyst Rana Foroohar told CNN that the "powerful" transparency being offered by Amazon is "an amazing use of the incredible amounts of big data that these companies have."

She continued by agreeing that it was a "very political" move on Amazon's part.

"The White House "called it a hostile and political act, which did sound very threatening in terms of what the president was channeling to Jeff Bezos there," Foroohar said.

"I think it's also very interesting in terms of where big tech and where some of the largest and most powerful CEOs in the country stand in relation to Trump, and I was wondering when this penny was going to drop. Because, yes, you saw, as Kaitlan said, them all sitting in the front row at the inauguration, it was the sort of parade of American oligarchs. On the other hand, boy, have their businesses been hit by liberation day.

Watch the clip below via CNN.

'Your kids may not like it': Kaitlan Collins greenlights guest to drop profanity

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins gave a panelist the OK to drop a profanity on her show Tuesday night and he took the host up on her offer.

On Collins' show "The Source," CNN panelists laughed at a clip of Donald Trump's appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, in which the host tells the MAGA leader he prefers when Trump refrains from attacks and stays on message. Rather than agree, Trump doubles down and says he has to attack.

"I think you are at your best when you're talking about a positive vision for the future versus criticizing the other side," said Friedman.

"Yeah," replied Trump. "I think you have to criticize though. I think they're nasty."

Collins' panel, laughs at the clip, including Jamal Simmons, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris from 2022 to 2023.

As the conversation shifted to the upcoming debate, Simmons made the point that Harris may stay clear of hitting Trump on his 34 felony convictions, and warned she can't get into a policy "point-counterpoint."

ALSO READ: Why Trump’s Arlington controversy is actually a crime

"That's not going to convince anybody of anything," he said. "There's going to be a bunch of facts up against a wall. They gotta have a core argument."

That's when Simmons asked Collins a question about what he can say on CNN.

"Somebody's job also has to be at that debate prep," he said, taking a pause. "Can you say this word? A-hole? On national TV?"

As the panel laughs again, Collins retorts, "Your kids may not like it but you can say it."

Simmons continues, "But somebody's gotta be the a--hole here! Like somebody's really gotta sit there and pepper her. And get her to get annoyed and aggravated. Because that's probably what Trump's going to do. And what you want her to do is to work out that aggravation in prep and not do it when she gets on stage."

Watch the clip below or at this link.

'Try smiling': Megyn Kelly launches sharp — and personal — attack against CNN anchor

Right-wing talk radio host Megyn Kelly went after CNN correspondent and anchor Kaitlan Collins with personal invective on her SiriusXM show this week, using charged language to attack her character and personality.

Kelly was particularly riled by Collins defending her network's coverage on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" as "fair" and a network that "both sides can watch."

Kelly strongly disagreed with the notion.

“I will submit to the record, her biggest sin is not that she is biased, though she is. It’s that she’s boring. She’s extremely boring with no personality,” said Kelly on her show. “I have a pro tip for her: Smile. Try smiling. Try not to be in your delivery like such a cold-hearted b---- all the time, because it gives people nothing to bond to.”

A native of Alabama, Collins got her start in journalism working as a reporter for the far-right Daily Caller before moving to CNN, where she has become known as a hard-hitting correspondent and analyst who has frequently fact-checked allies of former President Donald Trump on the spot.

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Kelly, an alum of Fox News who once demanded everyone accept that Jesus and Santa Claus are white, also previously hosted a show on NBC, but was fired from that role in 2018 after she opined that Blackface could be acceptable if it's part of a Halloween costume.

Since then, Kelly has not shied away from controversy-generating antics. Last month, she also came under fire for suggesting in a post on X that Vice President Kamala Harris built her political career by prostituting herself.

"She actually did sleep her way into and upwards in California politics and most women (and men) may learn that and see it for what it is: evidence of an unqualified political aspirant getting ahead based on something other than merit. It’s relevant, and fair game."

Watch the clip below or at the link here.

'Donald Trump is spinning': Gavin Newsom throws taunts as he celebrates Harris' rise

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was pinching himself after watching delegates formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket at the Democratic National Convention — and then slammed her MAGA opponent by likening the election to darkness versus light.

Speaking with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on the floor of the DNC in Chicago, Newsom shared how he couldn't believe he was standing there as governor announcing more than 400 votes for his pal Harris.

"It's just surreal. Just an obvious point of pride," he said. "What a point of privilege and what an opportunity to showcase someone whose next-level talent is now out of the shadow of being vice president and has the chance to shine."

Newsom noted that the election is now a "sprint" and said Harris recognizes what's at stake. He urged her to "stay on the offense."

ALSO READ: Stop the Steal 2024 is here

"No one's denying what's on the other side," he said, referring to former President Donald Trump. "No one is denying the choice: this is daylight and darkness and the contrast couldn't be more acute."

Newsom then shared what he called "a beautiful thing to watch."

"Donald Trump is spinning. He doesn't know what to do, he doesn't know how to do it. But he'll ultimately land somewhere. And that's why we ultimately have to be humble as it relates to what's in front of us in the next few months," Newsom said.

Newsom theorized that Trump was taken off guard by the party's sudden unity.

"And I don't think he also imagined the one intangible: there's a sense of spirit and pride," he said, and "energy that's beyond these four walls."

Watch the clip below or at this link.

CNN host spars with Republican over 'unfair comment' that Biden thinks troops 'disposable'

A CNN anchor forcefully pushed back Friday as she unsuccessfully tried to get a Florida Republican congressman and military veteran to retract his statement that President Joe Biden sees the troops as "disposable."

Brian Mast, who served in Afghanistan as an explosive ordinance disposal technician and lost his legs in 2010 when an IED detonated, joined Kaitlan Collins on "The Source."

Mast began the discussion defending former President Donald Trump's comment that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is better than the Medal of Honor because the latter is often given to people who were wounded or killed.

"What [former] President Trump said was insightful," said Mast. "There's nobody that goes and seeks to win a Medal of Honor. There's no service member that goes out there and says, "I'm going to get that Medal of Honor,' because it's something that you earn because of the valor that you show under the most deadly combat circumstances. Nobody wants that just like nobody wants a Purple Heart."

When the conversation later steered to Trump's comments denigrating military service — such as his comments about the late Sen. John McCain and John Kelly — Mast accused Biden of "squandering" the service of troops in the Middle East.

ALSO READ: Harris has figured out Trump’s greatest liability

"They squandered the service of every veteran that served in Afghanistan because of that withdrawal, because they failed to talk about the failures that exist there," he said.

When Collins pushed back, and said she wasn't sure that was a "fair" statement, Mast doubled down.

"I think it's fair — they see us as disposable," he said. "When President Biden goes out onto a tarmac, checks his watch ... they're seeing us as disposable individuals."

As Mast continued his tirade, accusing the Biden administration of trying to strip veterans who use the Department of Veterans Affairs of their community care, Collins tried to interject.

"But congressman we — I have to stop you," she said. "I think you can disagree with them on policy. Disagree with them on the Afghanistan exit, we've had plenty of Republicans who have. But to say that President Biden doesn't appreciate military service given his son, I think, you would agree that's an unfair comment."

Not to be deterred, Mast disagreed.

"I wouldn't say that at all," he said.

"To say that he takes it for granted is not fair," she replied.

"You're talking words of [former] President Trump versus literal actions from the Biden administration," said Mast.

Collins tried again: "His son served in the military, congressman."

"His son did serve in the military," Mast acknowledged, "but he's treating the rest of us like we are disposable. And we are not."

Watch the clip below or at this link.

GOP's smearing of Tim Walz's military record reminiscent of 'Swiftboat' attacks: Democrat

A New Jersey Democrat and Navy veteran came to the defense of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, saying the accusations questioning his military record are "incredibly offensive" and reminiscent of the "Swiftboat bulls---" that Sen. John Kerry faced in his presidential election.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill spoke with CNN host Kaitlan Collins on Thursday night on "The Source" and called the attack against Walz — who served in the National Guard for 24 years — a "slanderous" attack against his "honorable service."

Sherill said Walz retired before the announcement was made that his troops would be deployed.

"To try to make up some kind of story against his service is really offensive and even more offensive because these accusations are being lodged by another veteran."

Collins noted that Chris LaCivita, one of Donald Trump's campaign managers, was the "driving force" behind the famous "Swiftboat" ads, questioning Kerry's military service.

Sherill said she wants Walz to talk proudly about his time and service.

"This is the same old, tired playbook. They're like one-trick ponies against people who serve," she said. "Those of us who are veterans find it incredibly offensive because it's not the details, it's the fact that here's a person who has spent his entire life in service to his country."

Not only was Walz in the National Guard, he was a teacher for more than a decade, Sherill noted, and served as a congressman and governor.

"So to come at him and suggest that his service wasn't honorable, or that despite all the records to the contrary he somehow left his troops wanting leadership is just ridiculous and really, really offensive," she said.

Kerry served in the Vietnam War and earned several medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. He made his military service a key part of his campaign.

A few months before the election, a group called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" launched a series of ads and a book that questioned Kerry's war record and his fitness for office. Some of the veterans who served on swift boats said Kerry embellished his war exploits.

Fact-checkers at Snopes have deemed the claims "false" that Kerry's Vietnam War service medals were earned under "fishy" circumstances.

Watch the clip below or at this link.

'Fighting laughter': Internet pokes fun as Bernie Sanders jokes about '83,000th' Trump lie

Some on the internet think CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins fought valiantly to keep a straight face Wednesday night after Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed former President Donald Trump over what he called the "83,000th time" Trump has lied.

At Trump's rally on Wednesday evening in Charlotte, North Carolina, the MAGA leader attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, the frontrunner to become the 2024 Democratic nominee for president.

Collins asked Sanders on her show, "The Source," about the comment, in which Trump said, Harris is "more liberal" than Sanders.

"Is that how you would put it?" asked Collins.

The 82-year-old progressive laughed — as Collins appeared to try to hold back much of a reaction.

"Uh. Probably not," he said, as Collins cracked a smile. "It's just possible for the 83,000th time that Trump is lying? No I don't think that is the case. I think the vice president had a very strong record in the U.S. Senate, strong record working with President Biden in the administration, but no I don't quite think her record is where mine is in terms of being progressive."

The internet laughed at the exchange, with some pointing out Collins looked like she was "really fighting laughter there," and others postulating that "83,000 times seems like a conservative estimate."

"The highlight of tonight watching you interview Mr Bernie Sanders," wrote @westwing81.

"83,000 seems low," quipped @MWolverine1983.

"Ahahaha," laughed @MalibuSS396.

Watch the clip below or at this link.