Kaitlan Collins from CNN responded assertively to President Trump’s remark about never having seen her smile. During her recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the 33-year-old journalist recounted an incident in the Oval Office. Earlier this month, after she inquired about what Trump would say to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, the president shifted his focus. Addressing a room filled with Republican lawmakers and journalists, he remarked, “You know she’s a young woman,” before turning to Collins and claiming, “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 you smile.” Collins stood firm, explaining that it’s entirely appropriate to maintain a serious demeanor when discussing matters as grave as Epstein’s victims.

Collins expressed that she wasn’t caught off guard by what she described as Trump’s attempt to “deflect” from tough questions. She strongly countered his comment about her not smiling, asserting, “I don’t think it’s a controversial opinion that you shouldn’t smile when you’re asking questions about a [sexual] trafficker and sexual assault victims,” she shared with Colbert. Her statement was met with applause from the audience. Collins added that she does smile, but only “when it’s appropriate.” She noted that this was not an isolated incident, as Trump has a pattern of using personal attacks to sidestep discussions about sensitive topics like the convicted [child predator].

Collins elaborated on the situation, acknowledging Trump’s political acumen and his tendency to align with his base’s expectations. “In that moment, I was thinking if he had said that in response to a different question, I think it would have had a different reaction,” she explained. Collins believes many women can relate to her experience and the emotions it stirred. She pointed out that it was indeed the nature of her question about sexual assault survivors—not an accusation against the president—that garnered significant media attention. “I think it was actually the question that is what generated so many headlines out of that,” she concluded.

This month’s White House showdown made headlines as Collins and Trump clashed over the Epstein files, with the president describing her as ‘the worst reporter’ during a bill signing in the Oval Office earlier this month. ‘You are the worst reporter. No wonder CNN… CNN has no ratings because of people like you,’ he snapped. Collins became a household name during Trump’s first term after covering the White House for the Tucker Carlson-founded Daily Caller before getting a job at CNN. 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, stating, ‘These are survivors of a sexual abuser,’ the journalist said. CNN’s ratings have tanked from roughly 1.3 million in 2016 to 553,000 now, which is fueling rumors of a possible network sale – something CNN’s up-for-grabs parent company has vehemently denied.