CNN Host Praises White House Press Secretary

Caitlan Collins, a host at CNN, recently commended White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt for her support of journalists during President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

Collins shared her experience on Heather McMahan’s podcast, saying she was there to report on Trump’s trip. She noted that the Saudis have a reputation for being unwelcoming to the media.

“I yelled a question at President Trump when the American press entered the room,” Collins recounted. “He didn’t answer. That’s just part of the process—you ask, and they can choose whether or not to respond. Then the world leaders left.”

“The Saudi Royal Guards looked a bit shocked because I dared to ask something. They’re not accustomed to that sort of thing, given the lack of press freedom there,” she added.

According to Collins, Saudi officials then attempted to prevent her from attending a subsequent press conference. When she insisted, they made it clear she wouldn’t be allowed in.

“I noticed them whispering and pointing at me,” Collins said. “Some younger White House staffers were uncertain about how to proceed, so they turned to Caroline. To her credit, she asserted, ‘No, Caitlan is coming with the rest of the U.S. press,’ and we got in. It wasn’t a huge issue.”

Collins highlighted Leavitt’s decisive action, saying, “She really stood her ground, and I think that mattered, especially in that context, where you’re representing the U.S. abroad.”

The White House has not provided a comment on this incident.

Collins recalled a similar scenario during the Trump administration, specifically when he visited South Korea’s demilitarized zone.

She frequently had confrontations with Trump while reporting from the White House. In fact, he once called her “stupid and mean” for not smiling during their interactions.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face,” he remarked to her earlier this month.

Trump has often criticized news outlets and even threatened legal action against them.

Nonetheless, Collins mentioned on an October podcast that, in some ways, Trump has “embraced” the media more than any other president has.

While Collins has only covered two presidents as a White House correspondent, she pointed out that even seasoned reporters note how Trump’s approach has altered the media landscape.

“In conversations with reporters who covered Obama, they noted he rarely responded to shouted questions. It just wasn’t his style,” Collins explained. “But when Trump took office, he turned that upside down. Presidents often have an aversion to the press, yet Trump has welcomed media engagement.”