White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speak to reporters in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
(Washington, DC) – A tense moment unfolded during a White House press briefing when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized the media while responding to a question from Kaitlan Collins of CNN.
During the exchange, Leavitt accused the press of attempting to undermine the administration, telling Collins, “The press does only want to make the President look bad. That’s a fact.” She then singled out the reporter directly, adding, “Especially you—no, listen to me—especially you, and especially CNN.”
The remark came during a broader back-and-forth over media coverage of the administration, reflecting ongoing tensions between the White House and major news organizations. Briefing room clashes between officials and reporters have become increasingly common as political divisions and scrutiny over coverage continue to intensify.
The moment quickly began circulating online, with supporters of the administration praising Leavitt for confronting what they view as hostile media coverage, while critics argued the comment reflects growing friction between the White House and the press corps.
