The issue remains one of the most sensitive topics surrounding Donald Trump, and that tension was on full display during a recent Oval Office appearance that quickly turned confrontational.
On Tuesday, the president said the country should “move on” from the Jeffrey Epstein case, comments that came just days after the Justice Department released nearly three million additional documents tied to the disgraced financier.
“I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else,” Trump told reporters, signaling clear frustration as questions continued to surface.
That frustration escalated during a press conference held alongside Mike Johnson, when CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins attempted to ask about Epstein’s survivors.
KAITLAN COLLINS: What would say to Epstein survivo—
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you. pic.twitter.com/lmSpVz8wXX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 3, 2026
Trump interrupted before she could finish, turning his attention directly on Collins rather than the substance of the question.
“Look, CNN is thrilled,” he said, adding, “She never smiles. Someday I’ll see her smile.”
Collins calmly pressed forward, asking what the president would say to the survivors of Epstein’s abuse. Trump cut her off again, visibly irritated.
“You are the worst reporter. No wonder CNN… CNN has no ratings because of people like you,” he said. He went on to criticize her personally, remarking on her demeanor rather than addressing the question itself.
Collins responded evenly, reiterating that she was asking about survivors.
Trump immediately fired back, accusing her and CNN of dishonesty. “You’re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you,” he said.
CNN later issued a statement defending Collins, praising her professionalism and record as a journalist. The network described her as “an exceptional journalist” who reports daily from the White House “with real depth and tenacity,” emphasizing that audiences trust her reporting across CNN’s platforms.
The exchange was not an isolated incident. Trump has repeatedly targeted Collins in the past, including a December 2025 post on Truth Social in which he called her “always stupid, and nasty” after she questioned a White House remodeling project. He has also made derogatory remarks about other female journalists, including Nancy Cordes of CBS News and Katie Rogers of The New York Times.
The outburst comes amid renewed controversy over the Epstein files. Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Justice Department was required to release all related documents by December 19, 2025. The final disclosure—more than three million pages—arrived over a month late, fueling criticism from survivors’ advocates and legal experts.
Jeffrey Epstein, now deceased, was a convicted sex offender whose connections to powerful figures have long raised questions about accountability and institutional failures. Attorneys representing Epstein’s victims argue that the newly released documents still leave major gaps.
Jennifer Plotkin, who represents more than 30 victims, said the release shows the government “failed the victims over and over again.” Women’s rights attorney Dr. Ann Olivarius echoed that sentiment, noting that the documents do not clearly explain the immunity Epstein once received, which allowed him to avoid earlier prosecution.
Other legal representatives have criticized the scope of the disclosure, pointing to heavy redactions and missing records. Congressman Jamie Raskin questioned why millions more pages remain unreleased, calling the current disclosures “dribs and drabs” of information.
The Justice Department has pushed back against those claims. In a statement, an official said the department complied fully with the law, producing more than 3.5 million pages and properly identifying which materials were nonresponsive under the Act.
As debate continues over transparency, accountability, and the treatment of Epstein’s survivors, the president’s sharp reaction to questions on the subject underscores just how politically charged—and unresolved—the issue remains.
