Trump lashed out during an Oval Office press conference(Image: AP)
Donald Trump lashed out at a female reporter for not “smiling” while she was asking a question about the survivors of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The US President dismissed the latest revelations in the Epstein files, suggesting it wasn’t an issue the American people “care about”, that the only thing of importance revealed in the files was a conspiracy against him – and suggesting the country should move on.
During an event in the Oval Office, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Trump about Elon Musk and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appearing in email exchanges with Epstein, asking if he’d read the new trenche of files published on Friday.
“No,” he said. “I have a lot of things I’m doing. I don’t know. You mentioned two names. I’m sure they’re fine. Otherwise there would have been major headlines.”
The appearances of both Musk and Lutnick in the files did make headlines in many news outlets over the weekend.
Collins went on to ask about the haphazard redactions of the newly released files, saying survivors had complained entire witness interviews had been blacked out.
“Well I’ve also heard they thought they released too much,” Trump said, interrupting. “And now you’re telling me something else.”
He went on: “I think it’s time for the country to get on to something else, really. Now that nothing came out about me. Other that it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people. But I think it’s time for the country to get on to something else. Like healthcare or something that people care about.”
Collins asked what he would say to survivors who don’t think they’ve been given justice.
Trump lashed out: “You are so bad. You are the worst reporter. CNN has the worst ratings because of people like you. You know, she’s a young woman and I’ve never seen you smile. I’ve known you for ten years, I’ve never seen a smile on your face.”
“I’m asking about survivors of a sexual abuser,” Collins said.
But Trump barrelled on, saying: “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth. It’s a very dishonest organisation and they should be ashamed of you.”
Earlier in the same event, Trump was asked about the resignation of Peter Mandelson from the House of Lords. He replied that he didn’t know anything about it, but that it was “too bad.”
At the end of the event, as the media were being ushered out of the Oval Office, Trump could be heard complaining to a Republican congressman about Collins, moaning again that she “never smiles”.
