‘Answer My Question’: Trump Official Turns the Tables on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins by Citing Lawsuit Against Her Network
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins turned the tables on CNN host Kaitlan Collins during an interview, Wednesday, and began asking questions about a $5 million defamation case the network settled with a Navy veteran in January.
During the interview, Collins repeatedly asked the secretary for his thoughts on the recent Trump administration war plan group chat national security leak, which he dodged.
“I was not involved in the chat,” he said. “I trust the president’s opinion on it. I trust what’s been going on. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. My opinion is that my job is to take care of veterans in this country as they come out of service, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
After the CNN host asked him again about the controversy, the secretary replied, “Kaitlan, as I’ve just told you, I’ve just answered the question. I wasn’t a part of it and, you know, I’m not going to speculate more than what the president has already talked about, and those who have been involved have talked about, but would love to talk about the veterans.”
Collins finally snapped after he was asked a third time about the national security leak.
“Well, Kaitlan, since you undoubtedly don’t want to talk about the VA, I have a question as VA secretary,” he shot back, adding:
I want to ask you because I’ve been curious about this, because my job is to take care of veterans, and I would like to know why CNN is hostile to veterans, especially one in Florida where you just had a $5 million defamation suit taking offense at a veteran who is trying to help people. In fact, one of your employees actually said, “We’re going to nail him.” I have a question for you, Kaitlan. Is that employee still employed? Are you really concerned about veterans? So if we don’t want to talk about veterans now, you want to talk about everything else, I’d like to hear from CNN as the veteran cabinet secretary why CNN seems to have a problem with veterans.
Collins replied, “Well, Mr. Secretary, respectfully, my question was about–” before her guest interrupted, “Answer my question, Kaitlan… What you want to do is talk about a subject I’ve already answered?”
He complained, “I’ve answered your question, why don’t you answer mine? Is this person still employed who said they were gonna nail one of my veterans, who he had to do a $5 million award from the jury because of defamation, and then you settled the case? Answer my question.”
“Respectfully sir, I’m asking the questions here and I have no involvement in what you’re referencing there,” concluded Collins. “But if you don’t want to answer the question of whether or not it’s commonplace for secretaries in the cabinet to use Signal…”
Watch above via CNN.
