U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the day he announced the creation of a critical mineral reserve, in the Oval Office at the White House, February 2, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
President Donald Trump spent part of a recent press conference in the Oval Office admonishing a female reporter who asked him about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
During a Tuesday bill-signing event in the Oval Office, Trump took questions from journalists in an impromptu press conference. At one point, CNN host Kaitlan Collins asked Trump about two of his associates – Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Tesla CEO Elon Musk – being mentioned in the latest batch of Epstein files. Trump shrugged off those two names, saying "I'm sure they're fine. Otherwise there would have been major headlines."
Collins then followed up that question with another about Epstein's victims, noting that many were "unhappy with those redactionsthat came out," referring to multiple victims' names and identifying information appearing without redactions in the latest release. Trump also dismissed that premise, assering some victims thought the Department of Justice "released too much."
"I thinkit's really time for thecountry to get on to somethingelse," Trump said. "You know, nowthat nothing came out about me — other than it was a conspiracyagainst me, literally, by Epstein and other people. But Ithink it's time now for thecountry to maybe get on tosomething else, like healthcare or something that people care about."
Collins interjected, asking what the president would say to survivors who felt the Justice Department didn't protect them. At that point, Trump launched into a tirade against both Collins and her employer, and chided her for "not smiling" enough.
"You are so bad. You are the worst reporter," Trump said. "CNN has no ratingsbecause of people like you. Youknow, she's a young woman. Idon't think I've ever seen yousmile. I've known you for tenyears. I don't think I've everseen a smile on your face. Youknow why? You know why you'renot smiling? Because you knowyou're not telling the truth.And you're a verydishonest organization. Andthey should be ashamed of you."