White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins during a contentious press briefing on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, accusing Collins and her network of intentionally attempting to make President Donald Trump “look bad” as casualties from Operation Epic Fury in Iran continued to rise.
The heated encounter in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room followed remarks earlier that day from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who criticized the media for its reporting on six U.S. troops killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait over the weekend. The exchange represented the latest flare-up between the 28-year-old press secretary—the youngest to ever serve in the role—and one of the capital’s most recognized White House reporters.
Collins had questioned whether the administration believed news outlets should avoid giving significant attention to the deaths of American service members, referencing Hegseth’s earlier claim that coverage of “tragic things” was meant to hurt the president politically. The inquiry struck a sensitive nerve.
Leavitt shot back, her volume rising: “That’s not what the secretary said, Kaitlan, and that’s not what the secretary meant. And you know it. You know you’re being disingenuous. We’ve never had a secretary of defense who cares more.”
When Collins followed up by reciting Hegseth’s precise comments, Leavitt’s composure cracked. She pointed at the CNN anchor and insisted that the press does indeed aim to make the president look bad—”especially you, and especially CNN.”
As other journalists attempted to speak, Leavitt raised her voice again: “Listen to me, especially you and especially CNN.”
The press secretary then broadened her criticisms of the network, alleging that CNN had “hardly ever probably reported” on Hegseth’s travels across the country to meet with troops. She accused the outlet of skewing “every single thing this administration says” to harm the president.
Leavitt further argued that if Collins believed CNN’s reporting wasn’t largely negative toward Trump, “the American people would tend to agree, and your ratings would tend to agree” with the administration’s stance.
The dispute stems from Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israel military offensive against Iran. The Pentagon on Wednesday released the names of the six fallen service members: Captain Cody A. Khork, 35; Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20; Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42; Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California. All served in the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit from Iowa, and were killed when a drone targeted a command facility at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
The bombing campaign in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and 49 senior officials, but more than 1,300 people are believed to have died in Iran since the strikes began. Energy prices have spiked, and Trump’s MAGA movement has splintered over the intervention, with former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly all publicly opposing the move.
Collins commented on the tense showdown later that evening on her program, “The Source.” Displaying images of the fallen troops, she responded sharply: “Needless to say, our coverage of Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country is not about the president, and it’s not about CNN either.”
Collins also interviewed former Vice President Mike Pence, who tried to remain neutral while defending the importance of honoring fallen troops. When asked whether Hegseth’s remarks were appropriate, Pence declined to take a side: “I don’t want to get in between you and the administration arguing about the media.” He added that honoring fallen heroes is “altogether fitting and altogether proper.”
The latest confrontation extends an ongoing pattern of friction between Collins and the Trump administration. In February, President Trump criticized Collins after she questioned him about Jeffrey Epstein documents, calling her “the worst reporter” and suggesting she should smile more. In December, he referred to Collins as “stupid and nasty” on Truth Social, also misspelling her name. Leavitt and Collins previously clashed in December over economic and inflation-related questions.
President Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony on March 7 at Dover Air Force Base for the six fallen service members. Joining him were First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. As U.S. casualties increase, the administration faces mounting demands to explain the intervention—even as it fights with the press over how those deaths should be reported.
