In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the White House and the press, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has reportedly barred CNN’s chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, from attending a press briefing following what Leavitt deemed a “stupid question.”

The incident, which unfolded on April 7, 2025, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, highlighting the increasingly contentious relationship between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets like CNN.

The confrontation began during a routine press briefing when Collins, known for her sharp and persistent questioning, pressed Leavitt on a sensitive topic—rumored to be related to the ongoing Signal chat scandal or a policy decision tied to President Donald Trump’s agenda. While exact details of the question remain unconfirmed, sources suggest it was perceived by Leavitt as either redundant or deliberately provocative. In response, Leavitt not only shut down Collins’ attempt to ask a follow-up but took the unprecedented step of banning her from future briefings, a move that has stunned journalists and onlookers alike.

Leavitt, at 27 the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, has made no secret of her disdain for what she calls “propagandists in the mainstream media.” Her tenure has been marked by fiery exchanges, particularly with Collins, who has clashed with both Leavitt and Trump on multiple occasions.

This latest incident builds on a history of friction, including a notable moment in March 2025 when Leavitt curtly refused Collins’ follow-up question with a now-infamous line: “Kaitlan, I’m not taking your follow-up.” This time, however, Leavitt escalated the situation, reportedly declaring that Collins’ presence was no longer welcome due to her “disruptive” behavior.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from media advocates, who argue it sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom. CNN issued a statement condemning the ban as “an affront to journalistic integrity,” while Collins herself has remained silent on the matter, leaving her colleagues to speculate about her next move. Supporters of Leavitt and the administration, however, cheered the action, with some taking to social media to praise her for “putting CNN in its place” and accusing Collins of pushing biased narratives.

This isn’t the first time Collins has faced pushback from the Trump camp. During Trump’s first term, she was temporarily barred from a White House event after questioning his ties to Vladimir Putin, an incident that cemented her reputation as a tenacious reporter unafraid to challenge power. Now, as the face of CNN’s White House coverage and host of The Source, her exclusion from briefings could hinder the network’s ability to report directly from the administration’s inner sanctum.

For Leavitt, the ban reinforces her hardline stance against perceived adversaries in the press corps. It also aligns with Trump’s broader war on “legacy media,” a campaign he’s waged since his earliest days in politics. Whether this move will embolden other outlets to push back or further strain White House-press relations remains to be seen. For now, the spotlight is on Collins’ next step—and whether this clash signals a new, more combative era in political journalism.