CNN host Kaitlan Collins said this week that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended her access to a press event while traveling abroad with President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, as reported by The New York Post.

Collins made the remarks during an appearance on Heather McMahan’s podcast, Absolutely Not, where she recounted covering President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and described an incident involving local security officials.

Collins said she asked President Trump a shouted question as members of the U.S. press were allowed into the room during the trip.

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“I asked a shouted question to President Trump, who had seen me when the US press came in,” Collins said.

“He didn’t answer, which is, I mean, that’s how it works. You shout questions. They either answer or they don’t — it’s their prerogative. And then the world leaders left the room.

“The Saudi Royal Guard kind of freaked out because I dared to ask a question, and they’re not used to that there because they don’t have a free press.”

According to Collins, Saudi authorities then attempted to block her from entering the next press event. She said when she objected, she was told she would not be allowed in.

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“I could see them like, whispering, and pointing about me,” Collins said.

“And some of the younger White House staff, they are with the press, weren’t really sure what to do, and they went to Karoline and, to her credit, she said, ‘No, Kaitlan’s coming in with the rest of the US press,’ and we went in. And, so, it didn’t become this huge issue.

“So, to her credit, she, without a doubt, was like, ‘No, you’re coming in,'” Collins said of Leavitt.

“Which I do think is important in that moment, especially when you’re kind of the US contingent abroad, and we don’t do things like they do in Saudi Arabia.”

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Says Karoline Leavitt Defended Her Free Press Rights

“The Saudi Royal Guard freaked out because I dared to ask a question … and said, you can't come into the next event … Karoline, to her credit said, no Kaitlan's coming in with the rest of the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/uhB9al4GVX — Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 12, 2026

The White House did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding Collins’ account.

Collins said she experienced a similar situation during President Trump’s prior administration when he visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone. She did not provide additional details during the podcast.

The CNN host has frequently clashed with President Trump during her time covering the White House. The president has publicly criticized her on several occasions, including during a recent Oval Office exchange.

Trump has called her “stupid and nasty” and, earlier this month, commented on her demeanor during questioning.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face,” he told her earlier this month.

President Trump has often criticized members of the press and has at times threatened legal action against media outlets.

However, Collins said during an October podcast appearance that President Trump has “embraced” the media in ways she said other presidents did not.

Though she has only covered two presidents as a White House correspondent, she said veteran reporters have told her that President Trump changed how presidents interact with the press.

“When you speak to reporters who covered President Obama, he almost never responded to shouted questions,” Collins said at the time. “It wasn’t his thing. He would have his moments with world leaders, and then you would leave the Oval."

“Trump kind of upended that when he came into the White House,” she said.

“Sometimes presidents are press-averse. Trump embraced the media.”

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