CNN’s Collins: Leavitt ‘to her credit’ pushed Saudis on attending event

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins credited White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt for allowing her to cover an event last year involving President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite pushback from Saudi officials.

During an interview published Wednesday with Heather McMahan on the “Absolutely Not” podcast, Collins recalled when the White House press corps accompanied Trump on a visit to the kingdom last May. She said that when she shouted a question at the president while he was with Crown Prince Mohammed, the Saudi Royal Guard “kind of freaked out, because I had dared to ask a question and they’re not used to that there because they don’t have a free press.”

Collins, who is also CNN’s chief White House correspondent, said that Saudi officials told her that she couldn’t cover the next event, which was set to start shortly. Younger White House staffers then went to Leavitt, who Collins said diffused the situation.

“To her credit, she said, ‘No, Kaitlan’s coming in with the rest of the U.S. press.’ And we went in, and it didn’t become this huge issue,” Collins noted.

The CNN host later said the move was “important in that moment, especially when you’re the U.S. contingent abroad, and we don’t do things like they do in Saudi Arabia.” 

Collins has clashed with Trump and his administration throughout his second term. Earlier this month, he insulted her in the Oval Office after she asked him about Elon Musk’s and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s presence in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

“I think it’s time now for the country to, maybe, get on to something else,” the president said on the Epstein files. “Like health care, or something that people care about.”

Collins cut him off, asking, “But what would you say to people who feel like they haven’t gotten justice, Mr. President? What would you say to the survivors who feel like they haven’t gotten justice?”

“You are the worst reporter,” Trump replied. “CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know she’s a young woman — I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face. You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth.”

CNN anchor Jake Tapper defended his colleague at the time, writing on social media that Collins “is a great reporter & person.”