At a White House press briefing Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt abruptly ended the session and exited the room following a sharp exchange with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who challenged her on the president’s remarks about lawmakers and the military.
Collins asked why the administration hadn’t specified which orders it considered illegal and questioned Leavitt’s claim that the lawmakers’ message was “illegal.” Leavitt answered that the matter “perhaps is punishable by law,” and repeated objections before walking away.
The incident underscores escalating tensions between the press office and major news outlets, as Leavitt’s team has emphasized more selective access while insisting daily briefings remain open to “all journalists, including new-media voices.”