President Donald Trump lashed out at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a tense exchange outside the White House. The president hurled personal insults at the reporter after she pressed him on his decision to waive sanctions against Russia.
Kaitlan Collins questions Donald Trump about waived sanctions and Stephen Hubbard
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins pressed President Donald Trump on his decision to waive sanctions against Russia during an exchange outside the White House on Wednesday. Trump was speaking to reporters before departing for a rally in South Carolina.
Collins asked Trump about the sanctions, which were set to take effect under a law named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. She specifically questioned Trump about campaigning for Graham’s sister, Darline Graham. “You’re campaigning for Darline Graham. What has she said to you about lifting those sanctions on Russia that her brother fought so hard for?” Collins asked.
Trump avoided directly answering the question. He instead claimed the sanctions would have prevented the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old Michigan teacher held in Russian detention. “If I would have done that, you would not have Mr. Hubbard coming back,” Trump said.
The president then turned his frustration toward Collins personally. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he told her. He followed that with further insults. “You’re a dummy. You’re a low-IQ person. You’re a dummy, and you work for CNN,” Trump said. He also called Collins’ network “fake news CNN.”
Collins had noted that the sanctions Trump waived on Friday carried Graham’s name. Graham died suddenly in July, and his sister Darline was placed in his Senate seat afterward. She now faces a competitive race to hold onto it.
Hubbard’s release from Russian custody came on Wednesday, the same day as the confrontation. Trump framed the sanctions waiver as necessary for securing that release.
