President Donald Trump found himself in a heated exchange with CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday, as she pressed him about the victims of Jeffrey Epstein during an Oval Office meeting.

Trump had assembled Republican representatives in the Oval Office for the signing of a bill aimed at ending the government shutdown that had affected operations earlier in the week.

The topic of the Epstein files emerged when a different reporter queried Trump on his stance regarding the fallout faced by Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador, due to his association with the scandal.

Trump sidestepped the inquiry into British affairs, steering the conversation back to domestic issues. He asserted, “It’s primarily a Democrat issue, not a Republican one.”

Collins then noted the inclusion of both Elon Musk, a financial supporter of Trump’s reelection campaign, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the Epstein documents.

In response, the president admitted that he had not yet reviewed the recent Epstein files.

‘I have a lot of things I’m doing. A lot of things,’ he said. ‘You mentioned two names. I’m sure they’re fine, I’m sure they’re fine. Otherwise, there would have been major headlines.’

Collins then noted how several survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse have complained about how many redactions have been contained in the files, with the most recent batch consisting of around 3 million documents.

President Donald Trump tussled with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office on Tuesday over the topic of Jeffrey Epstein

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports from the White House briefing room in a photograph taken last month. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump hammered her for not smiling as she peppered him with questions about Jeffrey Epstein’s victims

Trump pushed back, saying he had heard complaints from some people that too much content had been released.

‘And you tell me something else,’ he directed at Collins.

He then tried to move on.

‘I think it’s really time for the country to get onto something else,’ the president said. ‘Now that nothing came out about me – other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people.’ 

‘But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something else,’ he said, floating ‘like healthcare.’

Trump has been on a tear about Fire & Fury author Michael Wolff, suggesting that Epstein could be a ‘bullet’ and end the president’s 2016 campaign. 

When Collins piped back up and asked the president what he would say to survivors, the back-and-forth turned personal. 

‘You are the worst reporter,’ he told her. ‘CNN has no ratings because of people like you.’ 

President Donald Trump speaks with the press pool with House Speaker Mike Johnson looming over him 

‘You know, she’s a young woman,’ he told the lawmakers beside him. 

‘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,’ he then said to the CNN host.

Collins became a household name during Trump’s first term after covering the White House for the Tucker Carlson-founded Daily Caller before moving to the cable news channel.

She shot back, ‘Well, I’m asking you about survivors of Epstein.’

‘You know why you’re not smiling?’ Trump replied. ‘Because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you.’

Collins got the last word.

‘These are survivors of a sexual abuser,’ the journalist said. 

Trump ignored her and turned to another reporter’s question.