What started as a routine White House press moment quickly turned heated when CNN’s Kaitlan Collins challenged President Donald Trump over the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The exchange, which unfolded during a press opportunity with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, saw Trump lash out at Collins in front of the cameras.
The Case That Sparked the Clash
Garcia, a 29-year-old man from El Salvador, was deported in March by the Trump administration—even though a U.S. immigration judge had previously granted him protection from deportation back in 2019.
Collins pressed Trump on why his administration had ignored that ruling, questioning whether Garcia’s removal had been an error or a deliberate action.
Trump Deflects, Collins Pushes Back
Instead of answering directly, Trump grew irritated.
“How long do we have to answer this question from you?” he shot back at Collins, suggesting she was ignoring the bigger picture.
“Why don’t you say, ‘Isn’t it great we’re keeping criminals out of the country?’” he added, before accusing her of lacking credibility and saying, “This is why nobody listens to you anymore.”
Trump then passed the question off to several of his top aides—including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—who each echoed the administration’s view: Garcia was in the U.S. illegally and had suspected gang ties.
Collins Sets the Record Straight
Later that evening, Collins responded on her CNN program.
She replayed the encounter and reminded viewers that Garcia’s deportation wasn’t as straightforward as the White House claimed.
She highlighted that an immigration judge had found his return to El Salvador would put him at serious risk from violent gangs—and that his legal team disputed any link between him and the notorious MS-13 gang.
She also noted a contradiction in the Trump administration’s public stance versus their legal filings, saying, “So which is it? Was it a mistake or a justified decision? They’ve now argued both—once in court, and once on camera.”
Trump Doubles Down, Avoids the Core Question
When Collins followed up, asking whether Trump would comply with a Supreme Court order to bring Garcia back to Maryland, the president evaded once more.
He pivoted instead to attacking CNN directly, saying, “That’s why no one watches you anymore.”
President Bukele, watching the back-and-forth, chimed in with praise for Trump’s immigration policies and asked why the media wasn’t covering what he called “good results” at the border more often.
Trump ran with the sentiment, touting a “99.1 percent” success rate in border enforcement and accusing media outlets like CNN of refusing to report favorable stats because “they hate our country.”
CNN Responds to the Accusations
CNN anchor Dana Bash was quick to push back on the president’s claim that the network “hates” America.
She dismissed the accusation during her Monday afternoon show, labeling it nothing more than a rhetorical ploy.
Collins Stays Grounded, Despite the Drama
Despite the public clash, Collins remained composed.
In a Vanity Fair feature, she described her role at CNN as being a “joyful warrior”—someone who pushes through the tough moments with focus and determination.
She acknowledged the demanding nature of her work, saying, “There are no days off. If you ever think it’s going to be chill, it’s guaranteed not to be.”
Still, she managed to grab a moment of downtime over the weekend, sipping a drink at Hudson Hound in New York while celebrating the end of the Masters Golf Tournament.
“Green jacket Sunday,” she captioned a relaxed Instagram post.
What’s Next?
With the Garcia case still raising legal and ethical questions, and tensions between the media and the White House continuing to flare, Collins shows no signs of backing down.
Whether it’s inside the Oval Office or behind the anchor desk, she’s standing firm and asking the tough questions—regardless of who’s in the room.