In a fiery new interview that has sent shockwaves through media circles just one day after Donald Trump’s historic reelection as the 47th President of the United States, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins doubled down on her role as a journalist, emphatically pushing back against progressive detractors who accuse her of going soft on the incoming commander-in-chief.
Speaking on comedian Hasan Minhaj’s podcast Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know, released yesterday, Collins addressed the lingering backlash from her moderation of Trump’s controversial 2023 CNN town hall. That event, which drew massive viewership but ignited outrage among liberals, featured Trump delivering a barrage of unsubstantiated claims while a supportive audience cheered him on. Critics, including some within CNN’s own ranks, slammed the network for giving Trump an unchecked platform, arguing it normalized his rhetoric ahead of the 2024 campaign cycle.
“My job is not to take down Trump,” Collins declared in the podcast. “I’m a reporter and an anchor. Our job is just to cover it as it happens and to show you what that was. I think that town hall showed people exactly that.”
The timing of Collins’ comments couldn’t be more explosive. With Trump securing a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s election—flipping key battleground states and reclaiming the White House in a stunning political comeback—the interview has reignited debates about media bias, journalistic ethics, and the role of cable news in a polarized America.
Progressive voices on social media and in opinion columns were quick to pounce. “This is peak both-sides-ism,” tweeted one prominent liberal commentator. “CNN handed Trump the mic in 2023, and now they’re defending it while he marches back to power?” Others accused Collins of prioritizing access and ratings over accountability, echoing internal CNN memos from 2023 that reportedly expressed staff frustration over the town hall’s handling.
Collins, however, remains unapologetic. In the podcast, she reflected on the challenges of interviewing Trump, describing him as a “unique” figure who defies traditional fact-checking in real time. “People want you to go in there and just debunk everything he says live on air,” she said. “But that’s not how journalism works. We report the facts, we provide context afterward, and we let viewers decide.”
This isn’t the first time Collins has defended her approach. In a 2024 Elle magazine profile, she argued that denying Trump airtime would only fuel his narrative of media persecution. “He was going to get coverage anyway,” she told the outlet. “At least on CNN, we asked tough questions.”
The controversy underscores broader tensions at CNN under CEO Mark Thompson, who has steered the network toward a more “centrist” posture amid declining ratings and competition from Fox News and MSNBC. Trump’s win has amplified calls from the left for media outlets to adopt a more aggressive stance against what they view as authoritarian tendencies. Yet, conservatives hailed Collins’ words as a rare moment of honesty in mainstream media.
As Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration, questions swirl about how networks like CNN will cover his second term. Will they pursue adversarial journalism, or stick to Collins’ mantra of neutral observation? Industry insiders say the podcast remarks could signal a shift, with CNN potentially granting more live access to Trump officials to regain conservative viewers lost during the Biden years.
Reactions poured in from across the spectrum. Fox News host Sean Hannity praised Collins on his show last night: “Finally, someone at CNN admits the truth—they’re not activists.” Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow called it “a abdication of responsibility” during her primetime slot.
Collins, 33, rose to prominence as CNN’s youngest chief White House correspondent and now anchors The Source at 9 p.m. ET. Her poised, no-nonsense style has earned her fans on both sides, but this latest dust-up highlights the tightrope walk for journalists in Trump’s America 2.0.
In an era where trust in media hovers at historic lows, Collins’ defiant stand could either rebuild bridges or deepen divides. One thing is clear: with Trump back in the Oval Office, the battle over how he’s covered is just beginning.
As the dust settles on Election Day, this breaking story serves as a stark reminder that the media wars are far from over. Stay tuned as developments unfold.