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Donald Trump launched another personal attack on a reporter, accusing CNN\u2019s Kaitlan Collins of having \u201chatred in her eyes\u201d \u2013 but Collins wasn\u2019t about to let the moment pass without a sharp response.<\/p>\n
The exchange took place during a June 3 press briefing in the Oval Office after a reporter questioned President Donald Trump about the future of a proposed $1.8 billion Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative intended to compensate people who believed they had been unfairly targeted by federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n
The proposal had already generated bipartisan criticism, with opponents arguing that some individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol riot \u2013 including people convicted of attacking police officers \u2013 could ultimately benefit from the program, People reports.<\/p>\n
Instead of directly addressing the issue, Trump \u2013 who turns 80 on June 14 \u2013 launched into a broad attack on former President Barack Obama and former President Joe Biden, arguing that officials under their administrations had weaponized the DOJ against his supporters and political allies.<\/p>\n
Then the conversation took an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n
Trump shifts attention to CNN reporter
\nWithout being prompted, Trump shifted his focus to Kaitlan Collins, CNN\u2019s chief White House correspondent, who was standing among the reporters gathered in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cCNN\u2019s a very corrupt organization with a corrupt reporter standing right there, never smiles,\u201d Trump said, adding the outlet is \u201ccrooked as hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then continued with a series of comments about Collins personally.<\/p>\n
\u201cA young, beautiful woman. Never smiles. I never see a smile on her face. I see her standing there with hatred in her eyes,\u201d the POTUS said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has hatred because we have borders, because we have a strong military, because we cut our taxes, because we do things that everybody wanted,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Throughout the exchange, Collins remained silent.<\/p>\n
Collins fires back
\nWhen Trump finished, she immediately returned to the issue that had prompted the discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs the $1.8 billion DOJ fund dead or is it on hold?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
Trump responded: \u201cIt\u2019s, uh, I\u2019d have to ask the lawyers. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins continued pushing for clarity on the program, but after describing it as \u201ca beautiful thing,\u201d Trump soon shifted the focus away from the fund and back to the CNN correspondent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was the greatest thing because people like you have abused our people so badly. The fake news,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Collins then pressed him again, seeking a clearer answer on his position, and Trump replied: \u201cWait a minute, be quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the 47th president attempted to explain the status of the fund, he also referenced Collins\u2019 background.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou used to be a conservative, she was a conservative from Alabama,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still from Alabama, Sir,\u201d Collins replied.<\/p>\n
Continued clash with Collins
\nThe exchange is far from the first public clash between Trump and Collins.<\/p>\n
Over the years, the CNN correspondent has frequently challenged the president during press conferences and briefings, leading to several tense encounters.<\/p>\n