Kaitlan Collins - Wikipedia

American journalist (born 1992) For the Australian politician, see Caitlin Collins.

Kaitlan Collins
Collins in 2022
Born	(1992-04-07) April 7, 1992 (age 33)Prattville, Alabama, U.S.
Education	University of Alabama (BA)
Occupations	Journalist TV anchor
Employers	The Daily Caller (2014–2017) CNN (2017–present)
Known for	The Source with Kaitlan Collins

Kaitlan Collins (born April 7, 1992)[1][2] is an American journalist and news anchor at CNN.[3][4] She is the former co-anchor of CNN This Morning. She has hosted The Source at 9 p.m. since July 10, 2023.[5] She also served as the network's chief White House correspondent from January 2021 until November 2022. Previously, she was the White House correspondent for the website The Daily Caller.[6] She resumed her role as CNN's chief White House correspondent for the second Trump presidency.[7][8]

Early life and education

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Kaitlan Collins was born in Prattville, Alabama,[1][9] where she grew up with four siblings.[10] Her father, Jeff Collins Sr., is a retired mortgage banker who now sells mobile homes.[11][12] Her mother is Tina Collins. She says that her parents taught her that "the political system in the U.S. is a failed one" and that she does not recall them voting or expressing strong opinions about political candidates.[1]

Collins graduated from Prattville High School and went on to attend the University of Alabama. She initially chose to major in chemistry, before majoring in journalism.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and journalism in May 2014.[1][9] Collins was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.[9]

Career

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The Daily Caller (2014–2017)

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After graduating from college, Collins moved to Washington, D.C., for an internship with the website The Daily Caller.[6][1] In June 2014, she was hired by The Daily Caller as an entertainment reporter. After covering the 2016 presidential election, The Daily Caller named her its White House correspondent in January 2017, and she began covering the Trump administration.[13][6]

While she was still with The Daily Caller, Collins was invited to make several appearances on CNN. At a White House correspondent event in spring 2017, she met network president Jeff Zucker and thanked him for having her on despite the ideological nature of her employer at the time.[13][6]

CNN (2017–present)

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In July 2017, CNN hired Collins as part of its efforts in covering presidential news.[13][6] As a member of the press corps, Collins reported on six or more of Trump's international presidential trips.[13][14]

Collins was involved in an incident with the Trump administration on July 25, 2018, when she attended a photo op in the Oval Office as the day's pool reporter. As the event concluded, Collins asked Trump a series of questions about Vladimir Putin and about Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen. Trump ignored her questions.[13][15] Collins was subsequently barred from a Trump administration press conference in the White House Rose Garden that afternoon[16] and was told by senior White House officials that such questions were "inappropriate for that venue".[17][18] Trump's press secretary Sarah Sanders said that Collins had "shouted questions and refused to leave";[17] Trump's advisor Kellyanne Conway said that the action was about "being polite".[19] Trump's deputy chief of staff for communications, Bill Shine, objected to the characterization of the White House's action as a "ban" but "declined to tell reporters what word he would use to characterize the White House's decision to block her from attending the event".[19] CNN stated that Collins' ban was "retaliatory" and "not indicative of an open and free press". The White House Correspondents Association called the ban "wholly inappropriate, wrong-headed, and weak."[17][19] Jay Wallace, president of Fox News, issued a statement in support of Collins, saying that his organization "[stood] in strong solidarity with CNN for the right to full access for [its] journalists as part of a free and unfettered press."[17]

Collins was the CNN White House correspondent for a large part of the written and televised live coverage of the 2020 election, and was subsequently promoted to chief White House correspondent for the incoming Biden administration on January 11, 2021.[20] At a briefing that took place a few weeks after the election, Trump's Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany refused to take a question from Collins and called her an "activist".[21] At 28, she was the youngest chief White House correspondent in CNN's history,[13] and one of the youngest chief correspondents for a major media network.[22]

On September 15, 2022, CNN announced that Collins would move to co-anchoring a revamped CNN morning show with Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow, ending her tenure as chief White House correspondent.[23] Before landing the morning show job Collins was elected to serve as President of the White House Correspondents Association for the 2024-2025 term, a position she relinquished when moving to New York.[24] On October 12, 2022, CNN announced that the morning show would be named CNN This Morning.[25]

Collins moderated a town-hall–style event with Donald Trump on May 10, 2023. The event included questions from Republican primary voters in New Hampshire.[26][27] During that event, while Collins pointed out that Joe Biden—whose home was also searched when classified documents were discovered at the Penn Biden Center—did not defy a subpoena, Trump asked Collins whether she would let him answer the question. Collins said, "Yes, that's why I asked it", prompting Trump to call her a "nasty person".[28]

On May 17, 2023, Collins was named CNN's new 9 p.m. ET host, which had been vacant since the firing of Chris Cuomo in December 2021, and her program was scheduled to begin in June. She left CNN This Morning on May 25, 2023;[29] her place there was taken by a rotation of CNN anchors.[30]

On November 26, 2024, CNN announced that Collins would return as the network's chief White House correspondent for the second Trump presidency while keeping her primetime post.[7][8]

The Source with Kaitlan Collins

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On July 5, 2023, it was announced that Collins' new 9 p.m. program would be titled The Source with Kaitlan Collins. The show premiered on July 10.[31] She has been hosting this prime time hourly show on weekdays between Anderson Cooper 360° and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.

Personal life

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Collins is a registered Independent voter.[1][failed verification]

In October 2022, she moved to New York City to host CNN This Morning.[10]

Awards

[edit]

Collins was included on Forbes's "30 Under 30: Media" list in 2019.[32][33]

In late 2024, Collins was named one of America's 10 best TV news journalists by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics. The organization, purveyors of the Dorian Awards to mainstream and LGBTQ-themed content, praised Collins for "fact-checking leaders when they spewed misinformation", and for how she "calmly holds the powerful accountable" on her CNN program The Source with Kaitlan Collins.[34][35]

In 2025, Collins was ranked sixth on Mediaite’s Most Influential in News Media list, calling her a “defining voice in the industry.” During that year, she concurrently anchored The Source with Kaitlan Collins and served as CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent, a dual role that Mediaite noted enhanced both her nightly broadcast and her political reporting. The publication highlighted her reporting depth, on-air interviewing style, and ability to attract a wide range of guests, including figures across the political spectrum. Mediaite also cited her series of high-profile political scoops in 2025 as evidence of her access, credibility, and influence within U.S. news media.[36]

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Stern, Claire (April 2, 2021). "How CNN's Kaitlan Collins Took an 'Apolitical Upbringing' All the Way to the White House". InStyle. ISSN 1076-0830. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
2. ^ "Birthday of the Day: Kaitlan Collins, CNN White House correspondent". Politico. April 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
3. ^ Valinsky, Lucy Bayly,Jordan (May 17, 2023). "Kaitlan Collins to anchor new 9 pm show on CNN". CNN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 5, 2023). "CNN Set to Launch 'The Source' With Kaitlan Collins". Variety. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
5. ^ "Kaitlan Collins' New CNN Show 'The Source' Gets July Premiere Date". Deadline. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
6. ^ a b c d e Ariens, Chris (June 15, 2017). "Kaitlan Collins Joins CNN from The Daily Caller". Adweek. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
7. ^ a b Barr, Jeremy (November 26, 2024). "CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins adding role as chief White House correspondent". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
8. ^ a b Whittock, Jesse (November 26, 2024). "CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins Named Chief White House Correspondent, Will Keep Primetime Role". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
9. ^ a b c Hrynkiw, Ivana (October 8, 2018). "CNN's Kaitlan Collins apologizes for tweets from her University of Alabama days". AL.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
10. ^ a b Kaur, Wendy (January 17, 2024). "Kaitlan Collins Is in Her Prime". Elle. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
11. ^ Axelrod, David (June 8, 2023). "The Axe Files with David Axelrod". CNN. Retrieved November 5, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. ^ O'Donoghue, Denise (February 3, 2021). "What we know about CNN's Kaitlan Collins, who has been welcomed into the global Irish family". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
13. ^ a b c d e f Shacknai, Gabby (February 1, 2021). "How CNN's Kaitlan Collins Built A Career Covering Trump And Became The Network's Youngest Chief White House Correspondent". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
14. ^ "Kaitlan Collins official Biography at the CNN site". CNN. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
15. ^ Romo, Vanessa (July 25, 2018). "CNN Reporter: White House Called My Questions 'Inappropriate,' Banned Me From Event". NPR. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
16. ^ Richardson, Matt (July 25, 2018). "CNN correspondent blocked from White House press event". Fox News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
17. ^ a b c d "Kaitlan Collins: Row over CNN reporter's White House ban". BBC News. July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
18. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (July 27, 2018). "Mission: Impossible—Fallout's Wolf Blitzer Cameo and the Possible Perils of Fake Fake News". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
19. ^ a b c Phelps, Jordyn (July 26, 2018). "White House disputes that CNN's Kaitlan Collins was 'banned'". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
20. ^ "November 4 US election news". CNN. November 4, 2020. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
21. ^ Barr, Jeremy (November 1, 2022). "The meteoric rise of CNN's Kaitlan Collins". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
22. ^ DePaolo, Joe (January 11, 2021). "CNN Shakes Up Afternoon and Evening Lineup". Mediaite. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
23. ^ Darcy, Oliver (September 15, 2022). "CNN announces it will debut new morning show with Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins". CNN. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
24. ^ Korach, Natalie (April 11, 2025). "Kaitlan Collins Is CNN's "Joyful Warrior" Covering Trump 2.0". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 2, 2025.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
25. ^ Bauder, David (October 12, 2022). "CNN reveals name, start date for new morning show". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
26. ^ Goldmacher, Shane; Haberman, Maggie (May 11, 2023). "Five Takeaways From Trump's Unruly CNN Town Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
27. ^ "CNN leadership under fire after 'disastrous' Trump town hall". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
28. ^ Wolf, Zachary (May 10, 2023). "Trump has a history of insulting women by calling them 'nasty'". CNN. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023.
29. ^ "Kaitlan Collins Says Goodbye to CNN This Morning, Heads to Primetime". www.adweek.com. May 25, 2023. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
30. ^ "Kaitlan Collins to anchor new 9 pm show on CNN". CNN. May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
31. ^ Seitz, Loree (July 11, 2023). "'The Source With Kaitlan Collins' Debuts as CNN's 2nd Most-Watched Monday Primetime Show". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
32. ^ "30 Under 30 2019". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
33. ^ Gomez, Dessi (May 13, 2023). "Who Is Kaitlan Collins? A Look at the CNN Anchor's Career". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
34. ^ Adweek, October 25, 2024, by Mark Mwachiro "Ticker: The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times Will Not Endorse a Presidential Candidate"
35. ^ Los Angeles Blade November 7, 2024, "GALECA Kicks Off Awards Season with a Spotlight on Top TV News Journalists"
36. ^ Staff, Mediaite (December 15, 2025). "Mediaite's Most Influential in News Media 2025 - Part 7". Mediaite. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaitlan Collins.

• Kaitlan Collins at IMDb 
• Kaitlan Collins on Twitter
• Appearances on C-SPAN

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