In a striking exchange with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, President Trump and El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele left the White House correspondent without a leg to stand on. Collins, known for her confrontational style, was quickly put in her place as Trump called out her persistent questioning.
“How long do we have to answer this question from you?” Trump asked. “Why don’t you just say ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ Why can’t you say that? Why do you go over and over? And that’s why nobody watches you anymore. You know, you have no credibility.”
When Collins attempted to interject once more, Trump swiftly dismissed her with a decisive “Not you.”
WATCH:
.@POTUS shuts down a very rude @kaitlancollins of Fake News CNN (again)
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47)
April 14, 2025
President Trump’s relationship with Collins has been contentious, to say the least. During this press conference, while meeting with President Bukele, Trump enlisted the expertise of Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and Senator Marco Rubio to address Collins’ line of questioning regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Maryland man linked to MS-13 and human trafficking.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently mandated the American government to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia after a judge blocked his deportation on safety grounds. However, Trump’s Department of Justice maintained, “federal courts have no authority to direct the Executive Branch to conduct foreign relations in a particular way, or engage with a foreign sovereign in a given manner.” Bondi emphasized that the U.S. would merely provide a plane if El Salvador wished to return him, clearly stating, “If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
In response to Collins, Bukele forcefully rejected the notion of returning the gang member, stating, “Of course, you’re not suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States, right?”
Rubio also reaffirmed that the deportation was justified, noting, “The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President, not the court, and no court in the United States has the right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States.”
WATCH:
Collins: Do you plan to ask President Bukele to help return the man who your administration says was mistakenly deported to El Salvador?
Bondi: First and foremost, he was illegally in our country. He had been illegally in our country, and in 2019, two courts ruled he was a member of MS-13. Right now, additional paperwork is needed. That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. The Supreme Court ruled that if El Salvador wants to return him—this is international matters, foreign affairs. If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.
Miller: As Pam mentioned, he is a citizen of El Salvador. It’s very arrogant for American media to suggest we should tell El Salvador how to handle their own citizens. Under our law, he’s not even allowed to be in the United States because of the foreign terrorist designation.
The Supreme Court unanimously agreed against the district court ruling, ensuring no court can compel the foreign policy function of the United States. As Pam said, the ruling solely stated that if this individual at El Salvador’s discretion was sent back to our country, we could deport him again. There is no legal route for him to remain here.
