CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Humiliated After Karoline Leavitt Has To Come To Her Rescue
In a moment that cut against the usual narrative of White House–press tensions, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins publicly credited Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt for stepping in to ensure she was not blocked from covering President Trump during a recent trip to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on Heather McMahan’s “Absolutely Not” podcast, Collins described an incident that unfolded while she was traveling with the president abroad. During a press appearance in Saudi Arabia — a country known for tight media controls — Collins shouted a question to Trump as members of the U.S. press were ushered into the room.
“He didn’t answer, which is, I mean, that’s how it works,” Collins explained. “You shout questions. They either answer or they don’t — it’s their prerogative.”
But the reaction from Saudi officials, she said, was noticeably different. According to Collins, members of the Saudi Royal Guard appeared alarmed that a journalist would call out a question in that setting.
“The Saudi Royal Guard kind of freaked out because I dared to ask a question,” Collins said, noting that the concept of a free press is far more restricted in the kingdom.
The situation escalated when Saudi authorities allegedly attempted to prevent her from entering the next press event. Collins recalled seeing officials whispering and pointing toward her before being told she would not be allowed in.
At that point, younger White House staffers accompanying the press pool were uncertain how to respond. Collins said they brought the issue to Leavitt — who, she emphasized, acted decisively.
“To her credit, she said, ‘No, Kaitlan’s coming in with the rest of the U.S. press,’” Collins recounted. “And we went in. And so it didn’t become this huge issue.”
Collins stressed that Leavitt’s intervention mattered, particularly given the symbolic weight of U.S. press freedoms abroad.
“I do think it’s important in that moment, especially when you’re kind of the U.S. contingent abroad, and we don’t do things like they do in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
The exchange is notable given Collins’ often adversarial relationship with Trump. The president has publicly criticized her on multiple occasions, calling her “stupid and nasty” and recently remarking during an Oval Office exchange that he had “never seen a smile” on her face. Trump has frequently sparred with reporters and has at times threatened legal action against media outlets.
Yet Collins has also observed that Trump engages with the press in ways that differ from previous presidents. On a separate podcast appearance in October, she noted that Trump often takes shouted questions — a departure from what some reporters experienced during the Obama administration.
“Trump kind of upended that when he came into the White House,” Collins said. “Sometimes presidents are press-averse. Trump embraced the media.”