Trump Attacks Reporters Over Russia Sanctions Questions as CNN Airs Contradictory Remarks From GOP Senate Candidate
The confrontation unfolded as Trump departed to stump for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham, who is running to retain the seat formerly held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins pressed the president on whether Graham supported his decision to lift sanctions established under legislation authored by her brother.
Trump reacted sharply to the inquiry, dismissing Collins instead of addressing the policy.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Trump said. “You’re a dummy. You’re a low-IQ person. You’re a dummy, and you work for CNN.” Moments earlier, Trump had labeled ABC News reporter Karen Travers a “stupid person” after she raised similar questions regarding Moscow.
The network responded on air later Wednesday during The Source with Kaitlan Collins, airing comments from Darline Graham that diverged from the administration’s posture.
“Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia to end the war and get the gas prices down, because I don’t trust Putin and I don’t trust Russia,” Graham said in the broadcast clip.
Collins also aired archival audio from the late Sen. Lindsey Graham forcefully rejecting energy transactions with Moscow. In remarks from late 2025, the senior lawmaker had cautioned nations against purchasing “cheap Russian oil, knowing it’s gonna be used to kill innocent people,” reinforcing his long-standing position to “never buy cheap oil from a despot.”
Trump defended the sanctions waiver as a critical diplomatic concession required to secure the return of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American detainee held in Russia. However, the clash highlights growing scrutiny within the Republican party regarding executive waivers on foreign adversaries and the consistency of the administration’s overseas policy.
