Kaitlan Collins’ Mysterious Absence Raises Eyebrows After Explosive Clash With Karoline Leavitt

WASHINGTON, D.C. — CNN’s chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins was noticeably absent from Wednesday’s daily press briefing — a move that immediately raised speculation, just days after her fiery on-camera clash with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt went viral.

While CNN clarified that Collins’ absence was routine — part of a rotation among their White House team — the timing sparked intrigue, especially in light of the intensifying tension between the veteran reporter and the Trump administration’s controversial spokesperson.

A Familiar Face Replaced

Instead of Collins, longtime political correspondent Jeff Zeleny represented CNN in the White House press pool on Wednesday. Though Collins doesn’t attend every briefing, her high-profile confrontations with Leavitt in recent months have made her presence closely watched.

Insiders say there’s “nothing unusual” about the switch. Yet in a political climate where optics are everything, the public couldn’t help but connect the dots.

The Clash That Set It Off

Earlier this week, Collins directly challenged Leavitt over President Biden’s last-minute pardons, asking whether the use of an autopen for his signature could void the decisions — and whether Biden had personally authorized them.

Leavitt, known for her combative tone, fired back sharply:

“You’re a reporter, you should find out.”

Her dismissive response drew audible reactions from the press corps and quickly lit up social media, with critics calling the moment “cringe-worthy” and “an attempt to deflect a valid question.”

Not the First Tense Exchange

This was far from Collins’ first head-to-head with Leavitt. At a press briefing last month, Collins grilled the White House over its decision to bar Associated Press reporters from key events — a move she suggested was “retaliatory.” The exclusion came after the AP refused to adopt the administration’s language calling the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” following an executive order from President Trump.

Leavitt justified the move by calling press access to the Oval Office “a privilege, not a right.”

“Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the President of the United States questions,” she said.

The tense back-and-forth added fuel to ongoing accusations that the administration is punishing media outlets it disagrees with — particularly those unwilling to bend to its preferred narratives.

President Trump Joins the Fray

Adding to the drama, President Trump himself took shots at Collins during a February media availability in the Oval Office. After Collins questioned his stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump accused her of being “a friend of Biden” and said that CNN had “no credibility,” blaming its declining ratings on “bias.”

Collins was also previously barred from a White House event during Trump’s first term — an action widely condemned by press freedom advocates.

More Journalists Targeted

Collins isn’t the only reporter sparring with Leavitt. Last week, the Associated Press’ Josh Boak questioned the economics behind Trump’s proposed tariffs. When Boak asked Leavitt if she understood who actually pays tariffs — American consumers or foreign exporters — she lashed out.

“It’s insulting that you’re trying to test my knowledge of economics,” Leavitt said, before declaring she regretted “even giving a question to the Associated Press.”

The comment sparked backlash from journalists and economists, many of whom say the administration’s economic messaging is oversimplified and misleading.

A Brewing Media War

The Trump administration has made no secret of its desire to upend the traditional relationship between the White House and the press corps. Critics argue it has created a climate of intimidation and retaliation. Supporters say it’s long overdue.

But the recent exchanges with Kaitlan Collins highlight just how fraught that relationship has become — and raise deeper questions about transparency, media access, and the role of journalists in holding power to account.

While Collins’ absence may well be procedural, it comes amid rising pressure, both inside and outside the briefing room. And with political stakes higher than ever, the next round of questions is already forming.

Because in this White House, nothing — and no one — goes unnoticed.