Donald Trump criticized a female reporter for not smiling while she questioned him about the recent disclosures related to Jeffrey Epstein. The US President downplayed the significance of the Epstein files, claiming that the American public was not interested in the matter and that the real focus should be on a supposed conspiracy against him.
During an event in the Oval Office, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins inquired about Elon Musk and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s involvement with Epstein based on email exchanges. Trump replied that he had not read the new set of files, expressing confidence in Musk and Lutnick’s innocence, noting that any negative information would have made major headlines.
Following up, Collins pointed out the incomplete redactions in the released files, highlighting complaints from survivors about the obscured witness interviews. Trump dismissed these concerns, suggesting that too much information had been disclosed and urged the country to shift its attention to more pressing matters like healthcare.
When asked about justice for survivors who felt overlooked, Trump responded aggressively, berating Collins and CNN for alleged dishonesty and low ratings. He criticized Collins for not smiling and accused her of being untruthful, claiming the news organization should be ashamed.
At the same event, Trump was questioned about Peter Mandelson’s resignation from the House of Lords, to which he responded that he was unaware of the situation but expressed regret. As the media exited the Oval Office, Trump was overheard complaining to a Republican congressman about Collins, reiterating his dissatisfaction with her demeanor.
