President Donald Trump has criticized CNN's chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, calling her "very dumb and unhappy" in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. This comes after a recent panel discussion hosted by Collins, where a reporter from The New York Times mentioned that a Trump rally in South Carolina had "really, really low" energy. Trump responded by calling the panel's discussion "FICTION AND LIES" and suggested that CNN, which he claims is struggling in television ratings, should replace its "3rd rate" anchors to restore credibility. Shawn McCreesh, a White House reporter, attended the rally in Myrtle Beach and described the energy as "really, really low." He noted that while the front of the venue was full, the back half was largely empty. Collins has faced similar criticism from Trump in the past, particularly for not smiling during interviews. At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in late July, Trump again berated her for this perceived lack of smiles. Collins has consistently emphasized that the focus should be on the questions she asks and the responses she receives, rather than her personal reactions. She has stated that she does not want the interactions to become a back-and-forth about her emotions. This aligns with her approach to maintaining professionalism in her reporting despite the personal attacks she has faced. Trump has a history of criticizing female journalists, including Bloomberg's White House correspondent, Catherine Lucey. In November, he referred to her as a "quiet piggy" on Air Force One after she attempted to ask about the Jeffrey Epstein files scandal but was cut off mid-question. The White House later claimed that Lucey had "behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way" in response to the backlash.