Chaos on live TV — Karoline Leavitt explodes at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in a fiery clash that sent shockwaves through the newsroom and beyond. The former Trump press aide, already under fire for her combative tone, accused Collins of “twisting the facts” before the segment spiraled into shouting. Viewers flooded social media calling Leavitt a “pathetic liar,” while others praised her for “standing her ground.” The exchange came after the Trump administration was blocked from deploying National Guard units to Oregon — a flashpoint that reignited bitter debates about truth, loyalty, and political theater on national television.
CNN viewers brand Karoline Leavitt a ‘pathetic liar’ as she loses it at reporter
After the Trump administration was blocked from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, Karoline Leavitt had a tense exchange with CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins
CNN viewers have branded Karoline Leavitt a “pathetic liar” after the White House press secretary lost it at a reporter who questioned her about crime in Portland.
In a tense exchange at the White House, journalist Kaitlan Collins asked Karoline, 28, what Donald Trump would do after a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon. The decision followed a legal whirlwind that began hours earlier when the president mobilized California troops for Portland after the same judge blocked him from using Oregon’s National Guard the day before.
Late on Sunday, US District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order sought by California and Oregon. Among those opposing Trump’s calls to send troops to Oregon was California Governor Gavin Newsom who mocked the president on social media.
During a press conference on Monday, Kaitlan questioned what Trump would do in response to the judge’s decision to block his National Guard deployment. The journalist noted the judge was appointed by Trump himself and that the deployment was blocked because the court found it was “untethered to what was actually happening on the ground.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had a tense exchange with a CNN reporter(Image: AP)
The reporter asked, “Which local officials in Portland have said that the National Guard is needed there, if any?” The press secretary replied, “With all due respect to that judge, I think her opinion is untethered in reality and in the law? We are appealing that decision, as you know we expect a hearing on it pretty quickly, and we’re very confident in the president’s legal authority to do this, and we are very confident we will win on the merits of the law.”
However, the exchange heated up as Kaitlan followed up, “But no local officials that you can point to that have said we need the National Guard? Because I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week, he said that the president’s claims just don’t match up with what’s happening on the ground.”
At that point, Karoline hit back at the journalist, saying, “I would encourage you as a reporter to go on the ground and to take a look at it for yourself, because there’s been many members of the press, not press in this room, but independent journalists, some of whom we’ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories, because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night.”
She added, “It’s on video. You should play it on your show. You have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience.” Karoline then claimed that the journalist had probably been “talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything everything this president does.”
Protesters confront federal law enforcement officers outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon, on October 6(Image: AP)
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Karoline continued, “You should also ask the people who live in Portland. We’ve actually heard from many members of the community who have said that this is complete civil disobedience. It’s a mess. It’s been loud. It’s being troubling for neighbors in the community who are just trying to live peacefully. And these people are not there to peacefully protest. They are there to cause mayhem and havoc.”
After a clip of the exchange was shared on social media, many CNN viewers hit back at Karoline, with one saying, “For context, Kaitlan Collins is arguably the single most trustworthy reporter in the country, and Karoline Leavitt is a pathetic liar.” Another wrote, “@kaitlancollins you should go to Portland and prove the Barbie liar to be just that, a liar.”
A third said Kaitlan “definitely doesn’t back down! She keeps pushing back. More reporters need to follow her lead!” Someone else said, “Kaitlan should have invited the liar to Portland to show her where all the violence is and have her prove it.”
However, others defended Karoline, with a person saying, “For context, Kaitlin Collins is a terrible reporter and Karoline Leavitt is calling it like it is.” Another tweeted, “That is actually funny you are saying that about Collins. Like comical. Come on.”
CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins questioned the White House press secretary about the situation in Portland(Image: AP)
Judge Immergut seemed incredulous that the president moved to send National Guard troops to Oregon from neighboring California and then from Texas on Sunday, just hours after she had ruled the first time. “How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention to the temporary restraining order I issued yesterday?” she questioned the federal government’s attorney, cutting him off. “Aren’t defendants simply circumventing my order?” she said later, adding, “Why is this appropriate?”
Oregon is fighting to prevent federalized National Guard troops from coming to the state’s largest city to address ongoing protests at an immigration processing facility there. Small protests have been going on outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility since Trump’s second term began in January. There have been occasional flare-ups, including in June, but for weeks nightly demonstrations attracted only a few dozen people.
Trump, however, has turned his attention to the city, calling Portland “war ravaged,” and a “war zone” that is “burning down” and like “living in hell.” Local officials have pointed out that the protest occupies one city block far from the downtown in a city that covers 145 square miles (376 square kilometers).
They also say many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on images from 2020, when unrest that grew out of the Black Lives Matter protests roiled the city for several months. Trump sent federal law enforcement to the city then, as well. Under a new mayor and police chief, the city has reduced crime and the downtown has seen a decrease in homeless encampments and increased foot traffic.
