Donald Trump called CNN’s Kaitlan Collins “a dummy” and “a low IQ person” on Wednesday, October 21, after she pressed him on whether he waived new Russia sanctions in exchange for the release of an American prisoner.
The exchange happened outside the White House as Trump spoke to reporters before flying to South Carolina for a campaign rally. On Friday, Trump waived a new round of Russia sanctions that were set to take effect under a law named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Sanctions are financial penalties, and these were aimed at cutting off money for Russia’s war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a 74 year old teacher from Michigan who had been held in Russian detention.
Collins asked Trump whether the two were connected. Trump first framed the waiver as part of peace talks, saying the US may be “close to a deal for the first time in a long time” to end the war. “When you’re close to a deal and you have very delicate negotiations, you don’t put sanctions on,” he said. He also argued that letting the sanctions go forward would have blocked Hubbard’s release.
Collins also asked about Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, whom Trump was campaigning for that night, and what she had said to him about lifting sanctions her brother fought for. Trump did not answer that question.
When Collins pressed again on whether he lifted the sanctions to get Hubbard home, Trump turned personal. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he told her. “You’re a dummy. You’re a low IQ person. You’re a dummy, and you work for CNN.” Collins pushed back, noting that she was repeating what he had just said.
Kaitlan Collins later pointed out on X that Trump was directly tying the waiver to Hubbard’s release while denying he gave Russian President Vladimir Putin anything in return.
The White House did not distance itself from the attack. Its official account posted the clip on X, saying Trump “demolishes” Collins, along with a laughing emoji.
Collins was not the only reporter Trump went after. Less than two minutes later, ABC News correspondent Karen Travers asked how waiving the sanctions to free Hubbard was not giving Russia something in return. Trump cut her off. “Are you a stupid person?” he asked. “Who do you work for?”
This is not the first time Trump has gone after Kaitlan Collins. In September, he attacked her on social media as “very dumb,” and he has repeatedly insulted her when she asks him direct questions.
