#Trump scolds #CNN reporter #KaitlanCollins for not smiling as she asks about #survivors of #Epstein's #abuse.
Frustrated by her persistence in asking questions about #JeffreyEpstein during an #OvalOffice event he wanted to use to promote himself and his party, Trump #scolded the CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins for supposedly #notSmilingenough in his presence.
The exchange began with Collins pointing out that Trump’s attempt to frame the disclosures in the latest batch of Epstein files as damning only for Democrats by pointing out that they also revealed that #Epstein had #closeties to two of his allies, #ElonMusk and #HowardLutnick, his commerce secretary.
Trump shrugged dismissively as Collins mentioned Musk and Lutnick and said that while he had not read their friendly emails with Epstein, the late #sexoffender he was also friends with for 17 years. “I’m sure they’re fine,” Trump said, “otherwise there would’ve been major headlines.” There were, in fact, headlines about the revelations that Musk and Lutnick were closer to Epstein than they had previously stated.
When Collins noted that “a lot of women who are survivors of Epstein are unhappy with” the way the #justicedepartment #redacted the documents, including, “entire witness interviews are totally blacked out”, Trump attempted to end the discussion by saying: “I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else, now that nothing came out about me”.
The president then suggested that there was “a conspiracy against me”, in reference to a previously disclosed email exchange in which the author Michael Wolff had urged Epstein to “help finish” Trump’s 2016 campaign by coming forward after the #AccessHollywood recording of Trump’s claim that he liked to grab women by their genitals was published. Epstein, however, did not agree to do that, so there was no conspiracy.
When Trump tried to end the exchange by repeating, “I think it’s time, now, for the country maybe to get on to something else”, Collins asked: “But what would you say to people who feel they haven’t gotten justice, Mr President?”
“What did you say?” an irritated Trump shot back. He then #launched into a #personalattack on Collins, a former reporter for the conservative Daily Caller who he has repeatedly vented anger at during both of his terms in office.
“What would say to people the #survivors who feel that they haven’t gotten justice?” Collins asked.
“You know, you are the worst reporter,” Trump said disdainfully. “You know, she’s a young woman,” Trump said to the #Republican lawmakers arrayed around his desk. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” he said, turning back to Collins. “
“I’ve known you for ten years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face,” Trump said bitterly.
“Well,” Collins interjected, “I’m asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, Mr President.”
Ignoring her reply, Trump continued his rant: “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth. And you’re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you.”
“These are survivors of a sexual abuser” Collins replied.
Trump then ended the exchange by turning to another reporter who obliged by changing the subject away from Epstein, the notorious pedophile the future president called “a lot of fun to be with” at the height of his abuse. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,” Trump said of his friend in 2002.
Trump’s aides were so proud of the #tantrum he threw at Collins on Tuesday that they immediately clipped video of the exchange and posted it on an official White House social media account with a caption suggesting he had “nuked” her.
In 2020, Trump memorably stormed out of a news conference when Collins refused to help him take the floor away from another reporter Trump had cut off for asking what he called “a nasty question”.
#TrumpRegime #TrumpEpstein #CriminalPresident #uspol #MentalDecline #auspol
