Kaitlan Collins absent from White House press briefing

Kaitlan Collins did not attend the White House press briefing on Wednesday. This came after she had a tense exchange with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt just days before. During their recent interaction, Collins questioned whether President Biden's last-minute pardons were valid since he used an autopen for his signature. Leavitt's response was sharp, telling Collins, "You're a reporter, you should find out." Despite her absence, Collins remains CNN's chief White House correspondent. On Wednesday, her colleague Jeff Zeleny represented CNN at the briefing. Collins occasionally misses press briefings since CNN rotates its reporting team. However, her recent appearances have caught attention, particularly because of her confrontational style. Leavitt has faced criticism over her interactions with various reporters. In another exchange, Collins asked why the Associated Press was barred from attending certain events, to which Leavitt claimed that access is a "privilege." Tensions between the White House and the press have risen under the current administration. Recent changes, including restricting event access for the Associated Press, have fueled speculation that the administration may retaliate against reporters for their coverage. Collins previously suggested that the access restriction was a response to the AP's refusal to change its terminology regarding the Gulf of Mexico. Collins has made a name for herself by asking difficult questions, leading to several awkward moments with Leavitt. President Trump has also criticized her, especially when she probes into topics like Russia and tariffs. These confrontations show the growing friction between the press and the White House.