On Tuesday, a heated exchange unfolded in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, centering around questions about the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

President Trump had convened a group of Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office to sign a bill aimed at resolving the recent partial government shutdown.

The conversation veered towards the Epstein case when a reporter asked Trump about his views on the repercussions faced by former British Ambassador Peter Mandelson due to his connections to the scandal.

Trump sidestepped the inquiry related to British politics and redirected the conversation back to domestic issues, asserting, “It’s really a Democrat problem, not a Republican problem.”

Collins then highlighted the involvement of notable figures like Elon Musk, a supporter of Trump’s reelection campaign, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, both mentioned in the Epstein files.

In response, President Trump stated that he had not reviewed the latest documents related to the Epstein case.

‘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.