‘Take A Look For Yourself’: Press Sec Challenges CNN Reporter To Actually Report

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that, as a reporter, it was her job to get to the bottom of things rather than to simply accept whatever party line came from the people in power.

While addressing the ongoing situation in Portland, Oregon — where Antifa rioters have squared off against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers while local police stand down and independent journalists get caught in the crossfire — Collins suggested that President Donald Trump’s plan to send in the National Guard was unnecessary.

“I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week. He said that the president’s claims just don’t match up with what’s happening on the ground,” Collins said, asking Leavitt whether she’d spoken to anyone who was in favor of a National Guard presence.

WATCH:

.@PressSec smacks down Fake News @kaitlancollins for denying Portland crime: “I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself… You’re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this President does.” pic.twitter.com/ZVjKMBooVK

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 6, 2025

“I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself, because there’s been many members of the press — not the press in this room but independent journalists — some of whom we’ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories,” Leavitt said. “Because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night. It’s on video!”

“You should play it on your show — you have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience —” Collins started to interrupt, but Leavitt kept going. “You’re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does.”

She also encouraged Collins to speak to the people who live in Portland and ask them how they felt about the chaos that was unfolding on their streets every night.

“These people are not there to peacefully protest, they are there to cause mayhem and havoc,” Leavitt said of the protesters.