Donald Trump launched another personal attack on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday, calling the White House correspondent a “dummy” and a “low-IQ person” after she challenged him over his administration’s handling of Russia.
The confrontation unfolded as Trump spoke with reporters before departing the White House for South Carolina.
Collins questioned the president about his decision not to impose additional sanctions on Moscow while his administration pursues negotiations related to the war in Ukraine.
Trump argued that new sanctions could undermine delicate diplomatic efforts.
“We are maybe close to a deal for the first time in a long time,” he said. “When you’re close to a deal, and you have very delicate negotiations, you don’t put sanctions on.”
But the exchange took a sharp turn when Collins pressed him about whether sanctions had been lifted in connection with the release of an American prisoner held in Russia.
Instead of addressing the question without attacking the reporter, Trump went after Collins personally.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re a low-IQ person. You’re a dummy, and you work for CNN,” he snapped.
Collins pushed back.
“But that’s what you said,” she replied.
The response underscored the central dispute: Collins was questioning the president about his own explanation of the administration’s negotiations with Moscow.
Trump continued defending his approach, arguing that imposing sanctions during sensitive discussions could jeopardize the release of Americans held abroad.
“The negotiation would obviously come immediately to an end,” he said.
Then came another insult.
“So use your head.”
The exchange followed Trump’s remarks about efforts to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American detained in Russia.
Trump has argued that sanctions should not interfere with negotiations, while critics have questioned whether delaying economic pressure gives Moscow additional leverage.
The confrontation was not limited to Collins. According to reporting on the exchange, Trump also criticized ABC News correspondent Karen Travers after she raised a similar question.
For Collins, the incident was another example of the president responding to difficult questioning with personal attacks.
Trump has repeatedly targeted the CNN correspondent in public exchanges, frequently invoking her employer while challenging her credibility.
But the underlying question Wednesday was about Russia, sanctions and the administration’s negotiating strategy.
Those are matters of public policy with significant consequences for Ukraine and American diplomacy.
Collins asked about them directly.
Trump’s answer included an explanation of his position — but also a string of personal insults directed at the journalist asking the questions.
And when she reminded him that she was referring to his own words, the president’s response was not to clarify the contradiction.
It was to tell her to use her head.
President Trump is directly tying waiving Russian sanctions to the release of the freed American Stephen Hubbard, despite denying he gave anything to Putin. https://t.co/TUxcvodPuF
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 21, 2026
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