President Donald Trump criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Truth Social on December 6, 2025, calling her “stupid and nasty” following her report on his White House ballroom construction project. Trump’s comments included a misspelling of Collins’ name as “Caitlin Collin’s,” marking another instance of his recent personal attacks on female journalists.
The controversy began with Collins’ December 4 broadcast in which she reported on Trump’s disagreements with the original architect of the ballroom project. Collins highlighted that the project’s size and cost had increased significantly from the initial plans, with the budget rising from $200 million to $300 million, leading Trump to appoint a new architect.
In a detailed Truth Social post, Trump justified the cost escalation by citing the project’s expanded scope. He stated that the new ballroom would be “double the size” of the original plans, with enhanced quality of finishes and interiors. “It’s just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned,” Trump wrote. “Interestingly, and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved.” He asserted that the project is funded through private donations and claimed it is “actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are.”
Trump’s critique also extended to CNN and its leadership. “FAKE NEWS CNN, and the guy who runs the whole corrupt operation that owns it, is one of the worst in the business,” he declared, mocking the network’s viewership numbers by stating their ratings were very low.
CNN and Collins did not publicly respond to Trump’s comments. However, Collins later addressed the situation on Instagram, clarifying her question to Trump. “Technically, my question was about Venezuela,” she wrote in response to Trump’s post.
The confusion appears linked to ongoing tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The Trump administration has conducted airstrikes on drug boats and has threatened land strikes in Venezuela over allegations of facilitating narcotics imports into the U.S. Collins asked Trump about these threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on December 5. Still, the president dismissed the question by focusing on his foreign policy achievements instead.
This incident with Collins is part of a broader pattern in which the president targets female journalists who ask challenging questions. In November, Trump called reporter Catherine Lucey “Piggy” after a question she posed. The remark drew condemnation from journalists, with Collins defending Lucey on social media.
Trump’s verbal confrontations continued when he called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers ugly inside and out, and CBS News reporter Nancy Cordes a “stupid person” when she questioned him about the vetting of a National Guard shooting suspect.
The pattern of attacks highlights ongoing tensions between the president and the press corps, predominantly female journalists responsible for holding the administration accountable. While presidential press interactions have historically been contentious, Trump’s personal attacks, often including insults about intelligence and appearance, are a departure from traditional responses to critical coverage.
The White House ballroom project remains a subject of debate, with scrutiny over its necessity, cost, and funding sources. Trump’s assertion that private donations will cover all expenses has not eased concerns about transparency, particularly with the project’s budget increase.
This incident underscores the complex relationship between Trump and media organizations covering his administration. The president’s readiness to engage in personal attacks against journalists, particularly women, continues as he progresses through his second term.
