Trump blasts CNN’s Kaitlan Collins as “Fake News,” hits network’s ratings

Trump attacks CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and the network over ratings, calls a panel “FICTION AND LIES,” and says he will see supporters at the Republican National Convention.

First Published: September 8, 2026, 7:35 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump attacked Cable News Network anchor Kaitlan Collins and her network in a Truth Social post, calling her panel “FICTION AND LIES” and describing the network as fading fast.

Trump, the president of the United States, targeted Collins over what he called a panel built on fiction, and he urged the network to replace its anchors to restore credibility. He closed the message by telling supporters he would see them at the Republican National Convention.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Very dumb and unhappy Fake News Cable News Network“reporter,”Kaitlan Collins(really low ratings, also!), had a panel where discussions were all FICTION AND LIES. You would think that CNN, which is suffering terribly in the TV Ratings, would get rid of their 3rd rate “anchors,” and try to bring credibility back to their once storied network. It is fading FAST! See you all at the Republican National Convention tomorrow night!!! President DJT” on September 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 5th message released today, and the last post was 7 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 9 of his 641 posts over the last 30 days classified as Media bias posts.

Kaitlan Collins is an American journalist and news anchor at Cable News Network, according to Apple TV. She has hosted “The Source” at 9 p.m. since July 10, 2023, and she served as the network’s chief White House correspondent from January 2021 until November 2022, according to tv.apple. She previously worked as the White House correspondent for the website The Daily Caller, and she resumed her role as CNN’s chief White House correspondent for the second Trump presidency, according to tv.apple.

President Donald J. Trump posted to Truth Social at WASHINGTON D.C.

Collins drew attention for a question she posed during a White House press briefing led by Vice President J.D. Vance, according to Daily Express. She highlighted a contrast between how Trump and Vance characterize the conflict with Iran, pointing out that Vance was hesitant to call the operation a war while Trump consistently does so, according to the-express. During the briefing, she asked whether the war would be over by the time of the midterm elections, according to the-express.

Vance responded that he would not call it a war and that there was no active shooting at that moment, according to Daily Express. The briefing was the first led by the vice president in more than 40 days, according to the-express. Collins later shared a colleague’s post featuring a Trump statement that ran counter to the vice president’s remarks, according to the-express.

The post pointed supporters toward the Republican National Convention, which Trump said he would attend the following night. He did not identify the panel he criticized or specify the discussions he called fiction.