A fiery confrontation during a White House press briefing has led to conservative commentator Meghan McCain calling for the revocation of CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins' press credentials. The altercation took place on July 23, 2025, when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were questioned by Collins on declassified intelligence reports.
These reports allegedly reveal that the Obama administration manipulated data to falsely accuse former President Donald Trump of collusion with Russia. Collins, a prime-time anchor for CNN and White House correspondent, challenged Gabbard regarding the timing of the document release, insinuating it could be an attempt to curry favor with President Trump. Gabbard defended the release as "irrefutable" evidence, while Leavitt accused the media of sowing distrust.
The dispute escalated when Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain and a former critic of Trump, took to social media. McCain labeled Collins "an absolute imbecile and a pure partisan hack," arguing that she should show respect for Gabbard and Leavitt, who were "exposing lies, deep corruption and keeping the country safe." McCain's post gained significant traction, particularly among conservative circles, further igniting the debate over the Trump-Russia narrative.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate, was appointed earlier this year by Trump, an appointment met with mixed reactions due to her past criticisms of U.S. foreign policy. Despite this, McCain was instrumental in garnering bipartisan support for Gabbard's confirmation.
The incident and McCain's subsequent defense of Gabbard demonstrate a notable shift in her political stance, aligning more closely with members of the Trump administration on matters of national security and transparency. This development adds another layer to the ongoing public discourse on the integrity of intelligence assessments and the role of media in political processes.
As the situation continues to unfold, the public has been invited to review the declassified documents, which Gabbard insists are nonpartisan and aimed at transparency. The story of how the Obama administration's actions in the final months of its tenure affected the incoming presidency is likely to remain at the forefront of political discussions.
