Trump Lashes Out at CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, Calls Her «Stupid and Nasty» Over Ballroom Question

Trump Melts Down Over Ballroom Question, Denounces CNN's Caitlin Collins as «Stupid and Nasty»: In a new outburst on Truth Social, Trump blasted CNN journalist Caitlin Collins after she asked him why the construction of his new ballroom was costing more than initially projected. He opened his post with the attack line: «Caitlin Collin's of Fake News CNN, always Stupid and Nasty,» before recounting the exchange that triggered his anger. Trump insisted that Collins' question was designed to embarrass him rather than inform the public, framing her inquiry as an example of what he routinely calls biased and antagonistic coverage. His reaction quickly shifted from the original topic of project costs to a familiar denunciation of the press, escalating a minor construction question into a full-scale political grievance.

Trump then defended the project by offering his own explanation for the higher cost, saying: «I said because it is going to be double the size, and the quality of finishes and interiors has been brought to the highest level. Also, the column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing.» He went on to assure his supporters that the ballroom was «actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are,» describing it as «much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned.» Through this narrative, Trump positioned himself as a master builder whose projects exceed expectations, while portraying Collins' question as both uninformed and malicious. The post framed the ballroom not just as a physical space but as another symbol in his ongoing battle with the media.

Trump also responded directly to public speculation about financing, insisting that the ballroom was not a burden on taxpayers. He wrote: «Interestingly, and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved. It is being fully paid for by private donations.» That line allowed him to cast himself as transparent and unfairly maligned, suggesting that critics — including Collins — intentionally overlook facts that portray him positively. After asserting the legitimacy of the funding, he pivoted back to his media attacks, claiming that CNN operates dishonestly and that the leadership overseeing the network is «one of the worst in the business.»

The worst in the business

Trump capped his Truth Social tirade with a direct attack on the network itself and its ownership, shifting from personal insults toward Caitlin Collins to a broader assault on CNN's legitimacy. He wrote: «FAKE NEWS CNN, and the guy who runs the whole corrupt operation that owns it, is one of the worst in the business. Their ratings are so low that they're not even counted or relevant anymore.» By ending on that line, Trump turned a question about construction costs into a referendum on the media, using ratings as his preferred metric of worth and relevance while painting CNN as both corrupt and powerless. The closing flourish made clear that, in his framing, Collins is only a symptom of a bigger enemy: a news organization he wants his supporters to see as dishonest, collapsing and fundamentally hostile to him, reinforcing the idea that any scrutiny of his projects or finances is not journalism but partisan warfare.