White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shut down CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during Wednesday’s press briefing as she aggressively tried to ask a follow up question.
The exchange happened as Collins asked about the story The Atlantic published this week — about a Signal chat group where top Trump administration officials discussed a forthcoming strike on Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
“Since we have these messages released, and you said that the President has now personally reviewed them, in the chat at one point, Pete Hegseth said wrote ‘1415, strike drones on target,’ and in all caps, he said, ‘this is when the first bombs will definitely drop,’ does the President feel that he was misled by his national security advisors, whoever it was that told him there was no classified information in there now that he’s seen these messages?” Collins asked.
“I’ve now been asked and answered this question three times by the both of you, and I’ve given you my answer,” Leavitt responded. “The President feels the same today as he did yesterday.”
“Sorry, my follow up on what you had just said,” Collins interjected as Leavitt moved to call on another reporter.
“Kaitlin, I’m not taking your follow up,” Leavitt fired back.
Collins interrupted: “I have a follow up on something you just said though, Karoline, that’s regarding–.”
“Kaitlin I’m not taking your follow up,” Leavitt responded. “Philip, go ahead. I have called on you.”
WATCH:
Press Secretary Leavitt spars with CNN's Kaitlan Collins.
"I'm not taking your follow-up."pic.twitter.com/q320gzu60w
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) March 26, 2025
